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queen-of-deans-booty · 8 months

Text

Phase 2

Pairing: Apocalypse World!Michael x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~1.9k

Warnings: angst, getting kidnapped, hating all humans

Request by anon: Bonjour Jordan, can i ask a spn imagine where the reader is apocalypse world Michael wife and Sam, Castiel, and Jack take her because is the only reason for Michael to show up because she is the only human he cared about and love? The reader can be Michael weakness. The reader is a super shy, sweet, innocent, intelligent, and introverted person

Summary: Sam, Dean, and Castiel need a way to take down Michael once and for all. When they go to his world to wage a war, they find you, his innocent wife who is a human, and they decide if you're not going to give information, then you'll be bait.

Square Filled: dimensional portals (2019) for @heavenandhellbingo

Author’s Note: i appreciate any and all comments! <3

Jack, Dean, Sam, and Castiel step through the portal to enter the Apocalypse World. The new threat to humanity is the big bad archangel, Michael. The one in their world is still rotting in the cage with Lucifer, and to prevent this Michael from obliterating their world, they need to kill him and kill him fast.

Wherever he might be.

“They’re here,” Michael says as prepares for the fight.

“Now? You’re not ready,” you say.

“I’m gonna have to be. They’re early but my plan can still work.”

“What shall I do?”

“Stay here.”

“No, I want to go with you.”

“Y/N, darling, you’re only human. I can’t let you put your life in danger for me. I can take care of myself,” he sighs and finishes gathering the things he needs.

“That doesn’t matter. You’re my husband. If what we hear is true, two of the invaders are human.”

“Hunters, my love. They’re hunters. You’re not. Please just stay here. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Michael kisses you sensually and before you know it, he’s gone. Your house is in the middle of the warfare you call this planet. There is a refugee camp for humans somewhere that Michael can’t locate. Whatever they’re doing is keeping him from finding them. You have no choice but to wait here and pray for Michael’s safe return, if praying will do anything for him.

An hour goes by and the sounds of battle grow closer to your house. The ground shakes with angelic power and you look out the window to see a white light in the sky that’s getting closer. You run to the back of the room just as someone comes crashing into your house. You gasp and shield yourself from the debris.

A man wearing a trench coat stands up and wipes the dust from his coat. He looks around the place and spots you through the dust.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Michael’s wife. Who are you?” The strange man doesn’t answer you. The hairs on the back of your neck raise in alarm. “You need to leave now.”

The strange man approaches you with bright blue eyes, and the last thing you see is a bright white light.

Sam and Dean have joined the local’s side to fight Michael, and Castiel returns after splitting from the group. Sam sees the angel emerge from the smoke with something on his shoulder, and upon closer inspection, he sees it’s a person.

“Cas? Who the hell is this?”

“Michael’s wife. We should go.”

“Wait, what? You kidnapped someone?” Dean gasps.

“Look, we can discuss this later. Do you want to wait for Michael to realize she’s gone or do you want to head back to our world?”

He’s right. Michale will obliterate them when he finds out you’re gone. Castiel, Jack, Sam, and Dean head back to the portal they’ve created to get back to their world. As soon as the last person breaches the portal, it closes.

“Cas, I can’t believe you took her.”

“We can gather intel about Michael through her. I don’t see the problem. It’s not like you two haven’t done this before.”

Castiel brings you to the dungeon where he chains you to the chair in the middle of the room.

“Cas, she’s a kid.”

Anyone under the age of thirty is a kid to Dean. You’re in your mid-twenties and have your whole life ahead of you. Why the hell are you wasting it on Michael?

“Well, we can’t give her back now. Michael must know she’s gone. Even if we return her with no harm done, he’ll still kill us all. We need to come up with a plan.”

You gasp awake and jerk away from Castiel who jumps back in surprise. Tears immediately roll down your cheeks from how scared you are. You don’t know who these people are, where you are, or where Michael is so your panic is coming out in tears.

“Who are you? Where am I?”

“Look, we’ll explain everything but you need to calm down.”

“Where’s Michael?” Castiel walks closer to you but you try to back up as much as you can. “No, don’t come near me!”

“Cas, let’s give her some time,” Sam says.

Both brothers leave with the angel, allowing you to cry by yourself in the dimly lit dungeon. It takes a couple of hours for you to calm down, and when they return, you’re sitting there silently with a stoic look on your face.

“My name is Sam Winchester. This is my brother Dean and our friend, Castiel who is an angel.”

“I know who Castiel is. Michael killed him,” you say.

“Right. Well, I’m sorry with the way we handled things but you can imagine why we can’t allow Michael into our world. He’s a big threat and we need as much information on him as we can get. We thought… well, we thought that--”

“That you’d kidnap me and I’d spill everything about him?” you finish for him. “Do you really expect me to be compliant in your demands when you kidnap me, tie me up in your dungeon, and leave me here to cry alone? No, this isn’t how this works.” You’re not sure where this boost of confidence is coming from. You’re usually very shy and always let Michael handle the tough talk. “I might be more willing to give you information if I had a bed and some food and a proper room. I am no threat to you. I’m only human.”

Sam, Dean, and Castiel step off to the side to discuss the pros and cons of letting you free. There are two angels inside the Bunker that can subdue you if you decide to go rogue, and there are two hunters that will keep an eye on you the whole time.

Castiel allows you out of your chains while Sam escorts you to the bathroom to freshen up. Your world is dirty, dusty, and filled with soot and smoke so taking a shower to clean yourself from that filth is amazing. Your world has really been set back from the wars Michael has started. Things like showers don’t come easy since there isn’t a lot of running water.

After showering, you are escorted to the kitchen where a hot meal is waiting for you. That’s another thing you don’t have--hot meals. When you’re constantly fighting angels in a world where power is limited, you don’t have access to things like microwaves or ovens. You only have fireplaces where you can heat canned food or small meals.

You immediately dig into the food gratefully. All three men are watching you with careful eyes and you start to get annoyed with the way they’re treating you.

“I’m not a circus animal. You don’t have to stare at me while I eat.”

“What is Michael planning?” Dean asks.

“You want to kill him, don’t you?” All three men are silent. “Why would I give you information on how to kill my husband?”

“He’s killing an entire world. He’s slaughtering millions. He wants to come here and do the same,” Dean gasps.

“The people he’s killed deserved it. He’s not taking innocents despite what those refugees say. Michael isn’t a bad guy, you just perceive him to be bad because his actions don’t fit your criteria of being a good guy.”

That silences all three of them. You continue to eat and they leave to talk about what the next steps are going to be.

“She’s not gonna want to give any information on him, but she can be bait. He’ll come for her.”

“As much as I hate it, he’s right. If she’s not going to be any help to us, then she can be bait. We can trap him here. He might stop killing and leave us alone if he sees his love is in danger.”

“We’re not going to actually hurt her, right?”

“Yes, Sam. We won’t harm a hair on her head.”

“Alright, let’s get started.”

Just like they predicted, it didn’t take Michael long to figure out you are gone. If he is ruthless when you’re by his side, then it’s a whole different ball game without you there. All of his followers are scared to be around him for fear he’ll kill them for them looking at him wrong.

“WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?!” Michael yells angrily and slams his fist into the wooden table so hard that it cracks in half.

“The invaders must have taken her,” one of the angels says.

Michael looks at him with a deadly glare and the angel shuts up. Another angel walks through the front door with a note in his hands.

“Someone opened another portal to drop this note off.”

Michael takes the note from him. It reads “If you want her, come get her”. Michael crumples the paper in his hand angrily and turns to his angels with fire in his eyes.

“If they want a fight, we’re going to give it to them.”

“Sir, this could be a trap.”

“Of course it is. It’s time for Phase 2. Get it ready because Y/N is coming home.”

Just as much as Michael is preparing in his home, Sam and Dean prepare in theirs. You should have known the nice treatment wasn’t going to last. You went from being in the dungeon to eating in the kitchen to being tied up in the library. Michael taught you everything you know about breaking out of rope ties and Sam isn’t that good at tying knots.

There is an angel’s trap right outside of the portal they’ve opened so that when Michael steps through it, he’ll be trapped. He’s been trapped before but it takes some time and a lot of energy to break through but then Sam and Dean will have what they want.

Right on cue, Michael steps through the portal and you break free from your binds. You leap forward to be in his arms but Dean holds you back.

“Get your fucking hands off her!” Micheal yells.

“I’m okay, baby. I’m not hurt,” you reassure him.

“You better let her go.”

“That’s not gonna happen. What is gonna happen is you not going back home. Your reign of terror is done.”

Micheal locks eyes with you and sags his shoulders in defeat. You know this is just a ploy to get them to trust him. Violence and confrontation is and never have been your forte. Whatever Micheal gets himself into, you tend to stay out of. However, this is your business. You hate humans for what they’ve done to him. They all deserve to burn for what they’ve done, and Sam and Dean aren’t any different.

“Let her go home. She has nothing to do with this. She’s innocent,” Micheal negotiates. “I’ll stay here with you if you let her go home.”

“Micheal, no, I don’t want to go home without you,” you say, keeping up the facade.

“It’s going to be okay, love. I want to stay.”

Of course, he does. Phase 2 is starting, otherwise they all would be dead.

“Let her go, Dean,” Sam says.

Sam takes you from his brother and escorts you to the other side of the portal so that Micheal can’t get to you.

“Don’t worry, my love, I’ll see you soon.”

You step through the portal into your own world and watch as it closes behind you. If he wants to initiate Phase 2, then so be it. You have a lot of work to do.

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thesugarclubs-blog · 1 year

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The Volunteer - Bucky Barnes x OC

warnings: none, pure nervous, post-CA: CW Bucky fluff

word count: 7.2k

WP: https://www.wattpad.com/1284102965-the-volunteer-maude

Masterlist

Bucky leaned against his motorcycle, studying the way his titanium fingers glinted under the sun rays that peeked through doing little to warm up the crisp November morning.

He contemplated whether he should keep his hands gloved today or not. Despite the team’s many encouraging words, he worried that the kids would be frightened by his arm and that’s the last thing he wanted. He had been looking forward to doing this since Pepper had announced their involvement.

It’s nice to think of doing something that isn’t just fighting. To make an impact on someone else’s life. A positive one. He wanted to add more of those now that he was free, make up for everything he had done or at least try to.

The sound of shoes crunching gravel interrupted his thoughts and when he looked up Sam shook his head as he made his way toward him.

“I thought we said no gloves.”

“I thought you said you’d beat me here because ‘of course, I can fly faster than that bike of yours’” He mocked.

He narrowed his eyes at Bucky and snatched his gloves from his right hand.

“Man shut up, I ran into the spider kid on the way and he kept talking to me.”

Bucky bit back a smirk and made a mental note to thank Peter later for distracting Sam so he’d get here first. The kid’s ok sometimes.

“Hey robocop, birdman. Let’s go, they’re waiting for us.” Tony called to them from where he was waiting with the rest of the team and they made their way over to the entrance.

Once inside, Bucky scanned the room. He took in all of his surroundings, studied all points of entry just in case. Force of habit. He let his shoulders relax and smiled fondly when he saw a group of kids running around playing tag.

“Here they are!” He shifted his eyes to Pepper’s voice at her declaration and suddenly he felt as if the air had been punched out of his lungs.

A woman with long dark waves falling over her shoulders stood beside her and looked back at them. Her big chestnut eyes shimmered under the white lights of the auditorium as she smiled in greeting. Bucky could feel his heart thump against his chest and he swallowed trying to collect his bearings. She was absolutely breathtaking.

“Everyone, this is Maude.”

She gave them a soft wave, the bracelets on her arm tinkling with the movement as she said hello. The rest of the group returned the sentiment, but Bucky couldn't find the words. He just stood there, lips slightly parted, practically tasting the sweetness of her perfume as she moved to shake Steve's hand. Her eyes flitted to his and he earned another soft smile that melted him to the floor.

A sharp pinch to his side made Bucky yelp, looking down to meet the pointed stare of Natasha. What the hell are you doing? was written all over her face.

Turning back, Maude was still studying him, her rosy lips turned at the corners.

"Hi," Bucky breathed, ignoring Sam's snort of amusement at his speechless state.

Her eyes the color of molten chocolate fixed on his as if she was trying to figure out what he was thinking.

"Hi." Her voice sounded like an enchanting melody in his ears.

“Maude, you wanna show this rowdy bunch what they’ll be doing?”

The moment was gone with Tony’s question and Bucky’s shoulders slumped as Maude turned her attention elsewhere, not without shooting him a small smile first.

“We’re here all afternoon, pal,” Steve murmured, clapping Bucky on the shoulder before he joined the others. The brawny super-soldier kicked himself, momentarily embarrassed that he was being so obvious. But it had been a while… well, decades, since someone had knocked the breath from his lungs with a smile like that.

Maude looked so comfortable, with her big, beaming smile as she gently guided the kids - and Tony, who was already trying to control the whole damn thing much to Steve's chagrin and eye-rolling. Bucky wished that he could just say something, anything cool, charming, or even funny. He used to be sort of funny.

"Sergeant Barnes?" Maude's voice rang through the air like a bell.

His eyes snapped up and went wide. She was talking to him? She knew his name? She smiled, biting her lip. There was an open seat next to hers at the table, right beside a little girl dressed in a soft purple sweater sitting in front of a pumpkin that was bigger than she was.

"Y-- yeah," he stammered. "That's-- that's me. I'm Sergeant-- yep."

He cut himself off before he could sound like any more of an idiot. Maude didn't bat an eyelash as Steve and Sam grinned at him. Instead, she just gestured softly to the seat beside her.

"Come and sit."

"Okay," Bucky squeaked, his cheeks flaming. He sat down beside the little girl who gazed up at him like he was a human skyscraper. Bucky smiled at her and Maude giggled, causing him to blush. He listened intently as she explained what they were going to be doing.

Help the kid to carve a pumpkin. Right. He could do that. He nodded along as Maude finished her explanation, getting distracted by the way the fall sunlight shone through the waves of her dark hair.

“So do you think you can handle it, Sergeant?” She asked sweetly, handing him the pumpkin carving tools.

“I…umm…y-yeah. Yeah!” he stammered as she laid her hand on his shoulder with a tinkling chuckle.

He watched as she turned and moved away towards another child, leaning down to speak to them, and let out a sigh. Bucky plastered a smile on his face that he hoped wasn’t too intimidating and looked over at the girl sat next to him, who was eyeing him suspiciously.

“You’d better not mess this up Mister,” she lisped.

Bucky shook his head once, "I won't" He sounded way more defensive and childish than he intended but the little girl just giggled and sat up on her knees to get a better view of her pumpkin.

He hesitated a moment, before grasping the small carving knife in his metal fingers, bringing it to the top of the pumpkin and carving out a circle around the stem. When he was done, his eyes glanced over at the little girl who was staring at his hand in amazement.

"Are you a robot?" She asked, curiously.

Bucky glanced at his hand too, staring at the metal for a beat too long. He cleared his suddenly dry throat and looked back at the little girl.

“Sorry, not a robot. Just a guy with a metal arm.”

She nodded as if that made perfect sense and asked, “Can I touch it?”

His breath hitched in his chest. He felt the panic rising in his throat- bubbling up and up, threatening to spill over, as he contemplated the weight of letting this innocent little girl touch the piece of metal that had caused so much hurt, so much pain-

“It’s okay if you say no,” the little girl offered.

Bucky’s heart melted in his chest. She was so kind and he was trying to believe that he deserved it. In the next split second, he reckoned with decades of guilt and violence and decided to try and be vulnerable. What’s the worst that could happen?

“It’s okay,” he managed to say, his voice gentle. “you can. Thanks for asking.” He offered a small smile, along with his outstretched left palm.

Her beaming smile took him by surprise. She immediately reached for his hand, her palm so small in comparison to his own.

His heart was beating wildly in his chest as she ran her fingers over his shiny hand, he tried to take a couple of deep breaths to calm himself down.

Clear awe was written on the little girl's face as she watched the plates intricately shift as Bucky turned his palm around for her.

"It's so cool!" She exclaimed, squeezing his thumb between her hands before letting go and turning back to her pumpkin.

"Thank you for letting me touch it," she told him sweetly, a cute blush on her chubby cheeks.

Bucky cleared his throat, sticky with worry and what he was learning was anxiety. His therapist had been helping him manage it among other things but it seemed to creep up on him when he least expected it. "You wanna see a trick?" He asked her.

Her eyes lit up with interest, wonder and curiosity dancing across her innocent features as she nodded. Bucky looked around, taking into account his audience, a few of the little boys across the table whose arms and shirts were covered in pumpkin guts and seeds had started to stare.

Bucky pulled back the cuff of his jacket to expose the forearm of his metal extension, "watch close," he whispered, leaning into her enthusiasm, letting himself feel good about doing something for the first time in a long time. That was the whole point of volunteering after all. He flexed his fingers slowly, one at a time, causing the metal to shift in a more dramatic fashion than when she had first touched him. They clicked back into place like a tiny set of waves over the arm. The shiny metal caught the light of the room and the little girl gasped with excitement.

"That was cool I guess," she said, sitting up straight and pretending not to be impressed.

A smile played on his lips, his nerves fading into a background hum.

Bucky watched her push back the sleeves of her sweater, readying herself to gut the pumpkin. He mimicked her movements and pulled the top off gesturing for her to go first.

They took turns fishing out the guts and seeds and each time it was her turn she'd throw them to his side, giggling as he scrunched his nose up feigning disgust. Just as they were finishing up, Maude's voice sounded from behind them.

"How are you guys doing over here?"

Bucky looked up and his heart fluttered when his eyes met hers. He smiled at her but furrowed his brows a bit when she tilted her head, biting the corner of her lip. Time all but stopped when he saw her hand making its way to his face.

Goosebumps erupted all over Bucky's skin and he fought the urge to close his eyes as her fingers skimmed his cheekbone, capturing a strand of dark hair. She laced it around his ear, eyes shining in the afternoon light and Bucky swore everything else around them disappeared.

"Sorry, it looked like it was in the way. I’d hate for you to get pumpkin in your hair."

"Are you done now? I wanna cut the eyes out," The little, slightly angry voice beside Bucky snapped him from his reverie as Maude giggled.

"Sorry, little one. Be right with ya."

He produced a half-smile to the little girl as his eyes travelled over Maude one more time, marvelling over her effortless beauty. She had something so magnetic about her that it proved difficult for him to not crave her presence.

Bucky and his new friend spent the next thirty minutes carving away at the pumpkin, her small hand gripping his as he helped with the tougher parts.

He perked up when he heard Maude clap, addressing the room.

“Okay, everyone! Bring your finished pumpkins up to the table here, we’ll play some fun games with the Avengers before judging your creations!” “You want some help carrying this over?” Bucky asked. The little girl nodded, taking one side of their pumpkin as they made their way over and placed it on the table. “Amazing carving skills, sweetheart.” Maude beamed as she appeared next to them. “Thanks,” Bucky replied without thinking. Beside him, his tiny partner in crime tugged at his sleeve. “I think she was talking to me,” she whispered, giggling as Bucky blushed.

Maude giggled and put her hand on Bucky's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"But you did a pretty good job too, Sergeant."

Butterflies swarmed his stomach. Even though he stood 6'4" and weighed well over 200 pounds of muscle and metal, the gesture made him feel like a teenager again. The blush was creeping into the back of his neck and he felt like his mouth was made of sandpaper.

"It's Bucky," he rasped softly, his voice getting drowned in a sea of laughter as Tony made some stupid joke while Pepper rolled her eyes.

Maude leaned in closer, which forced Bucky's heart to jump into his throat. He could smell her perfume and her shampoo. He could see the little light brown flecks in her brown eyes. She dragged her tongue across her bottom lip and he nearly collapsed.

"Sorry. They're so loud, sometimes I think they're going to blow out my eardrums."

"M-- my-- my name is Bucky-- or... my friends call me Bucky." His voice was a little more commanding this time.

Maude let out a soft laugh. She didn't seem nervous at all, at least not that he could tell. Bucky just wished he still had some of that '40s charm. But that man felt so far away from who he had become.

"Well, I'm glad we became friends so fast, Bucky," she whispered, her hand still lingering on his shoulder.

“He’s my friend too!” came the small, indignant voice and a tiny hand snaked its way into his giant metal palm.

He looked down in surprise, his eyebrows disappearing into his hairline as his pumpkin partner pouted determinedly back up at him.

“Don’t worry Rebecca, I’m sure Bucky can be friends with us both, right?” Maude said, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

A soft smile appeared on Bucky's face as he nodded his head, "Y-yeah! Of course, I can"

Maude giggled and shot Bucky a wink as she moved on to look at everyone else's pumpkins. Her laugh was like music to his ears and as he got lost in the sound of her voice as she spoke to the other kids, a small dramatic throat clear came from beside him.

"Can you just kiss her already so we can all move on?" Rebecca demanded.

Bucky's eyes widened and a blush crept up his neck, hearing a snicker coming from behind him on behalf of Sam and Steve. "N-no, that's not... Why don't you go play with the other kids? I-I'll catch up" He tried to smile at her, as she rolled her eyes and took off to join a group of kids.

"Man, you got it bad" Sam smirked, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Lay off him. Sam!" Steve interjected, "You should go talk to her though... I've seen the way she's been looking at you, I think she likes you too"

Bucky gnawed on the inside of his cheek, his eyes flickered over to Maude. Her head was thrown back, a gorgeous laugh filled the room as a little boy tried to give himself a mustache with pumpkin guts. He watched as she used the sleeve of her sweater to wipe the remaining strings from the little guy's face.

She radiated warmth and everything good that Bucky didn't see in himself.

"Buck?" Steve's voice cut through the thick layer of thoughts that wandered their way back in. Bucky looked back to his friend, a hard-pressed smile adorned his face. "You deserve to be happy, pal. Try to get to know her, huh?"

Bucky nodded, the nervousness returning as a heavy ball in his gut.

Sam nudged him, "Go over there and try not to be weird and stop staring at her. You don't want to freak her out before you even get a chance to ask her out."

A loud sigh came from his side as Steve shook his head, "Not helping, Sam."

Sam chuckled, nudging him again, "Come on, big guy! Take a chance." Before he and Steve left him to gather his thoughts.

Maybe it would be good for him, to make connections and feel more human rather than a programmed killing machine. He just has to believe in himself, and believe that he deserves good things as his therapist and Steve always reminded him.

With slow steps, Bucky approached her while she was kneeling on the floor trying to pick up fallen crayons while keeping the conversation with a little girl who was showing her a drawing of Thor.

He kneeled beside Maude, her sweet scent immediately filling his lungs and calming him a little.

"Do you-- do you need any help?"

Bucky hesitantly asked the brown-eyed beauty who turned to him with a glowing smile.

"Hold these," she asked and without looking down she took his metal hand into her palm and filled it with crayons.

Bucky flexed from her touch, wishing he could feel how soft her hand was. The cool metal of his arm offered no feeling and well his heart fluttered that she didn't flinch away from him or the weapon he concealed, he ached for the contact. His cheek still tingled from her fingertips making him crave her delicate touch like an addict.

"Do you like my Thor?" The kid shoved the paper two inches from Bucky's face. Studying the vibrating piece of paper he tried not to laugh at the hideous stick figure of Thor riding what appeared to be a horse.

"Nice horse," he swallowed, using his free hand to push the paper out his eyeline so he could see Maude's rosy pink lips again.

"It's a unicorn," the kid scowled, turning the drawing back so he could look at it, "Rebecca is always lying, you're not cool, you're weird and scary." The kid stuck his tongue out at Bucky and walked away from the two of them in a huff.

"Kids are mean," he mumbled, looking over at Rebecca who was proudly showing off her pumpkin to everyone.

Maude held out a bucket for him to drop the loose crayons into, "don't listen to him. You made Rebecca's day, she doesn't have anyone around to do this kind of stuff with. And look at her, I haven't seen her smile in months." Maude nudged him with her elbow. "You did that."

Bucky felt a pang in his chest at her words.

He knows what it's like not to have anyone but he can't even imagine having to go through that as a child. He felt his eyes begin to water and lowered his gaze, focusing on the bucket in her hand.

"I just helped her carve a pumpkin, it's nothin'."

Maude curved her finger under his chin, lifting it up slightly to meet his eyes.

"It's everything, Bucky. Thank you." she voiced with a soft smile before removing her finger, her touch lingering on his skin.

He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. What was he supposed to say to that?

His heart was hammering in his chest at her smile, at her touch - the touch he had been craving moments before, and badly wanted back again.

He swallowed as they both stood, trying to will himself to say something.

Sam had told him to take a chance, right?

"Hey, do you wanna maybe -" he stopped, sighing. She was already walking away to help some of the other kids.

Bucky closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration. This used to be so easy for him. He'd see a pretty girl and the words would just flow out of him, effortlessly charming. The familiar fog of despair started rolling in the moment Maude's sunshine wasn't by his side.

"You like Miss Maude, don't ya?"

Rebecca's voice might have made him jump if he couldn't hear her tiny hummingbird heartbeat the moment she walked up. Bucky looked down at her, her owlish eyes gazing at him with intent.

"Yeah...I guess I do," he murmured softly, watching the brunette across the room.

There was the squeaking of rubber on the tile as Rebecca took off toward where Maude stood talking to the other kids.

"Shit, I mean, don't-" Bucky exclaimed, kicking himself as he watched Rebecca stand on her tiptoes.

The little girl whispered something in Maude's ear and the woman's soft eyes met his, only to widen in shock before smiling. Bucky looked down, suddenly becoming very interested in a scuff mark on the shiny floor.

Rebecca walked back with the biggest grin spreading on her tiny face like she was the fucking Chesire Cat.

"There you go, old man. I helped you." Rebecca's voice was laced with the tiniest bit of mischief.

Maude was inching closer to them and Bucky felt like his heart was about to drop out of his chest and plop right to her feet.

“She really likes hot chocolate from the drink station,” Rebecca adds, “with cream and the special sprinkles. They’re shaped like snowflakes. Hint, hint.”

The small girl attempts to wink, blinking instead and Bucky snorts as he chuckles with her. She’s adorable. A troublemaker, but anyone who knows Bucky knows he attracts troublemakers like moths to a flame.

“Looks like I’m missing out on all the fun over here.” Maude laughs softly.

“Oh, I uh…” Bucky fumbles, glancing at Rebecca for backup.

“Bucky was wondering if you would like a hot chocolate, Miss Maude.” She kicks Bucky’s shin, hard and he hops, not expecting such violence from such a small child.

“Yeah. Hot chocolate? If— um, if you wanted? With me?”

“We’re about to play a game and then the pumpkin judging,“ Bucky’s face fell at her words, he should have expected rejection, “but I would love a hot chocolate after the event.” Maude smiled, her eyes lighting up, “if you’re willing to stick around?”

His heart was pounding. Did he hear that right?

"Told ya," Rebecca whispered as she giggled, looking across the room as if something captured her attention.

Bucky followed her gaze and saw Sam and Steve waving dollar bills, but the second they spotted him, they stopped and tried to hide them miserably. Rebecca bounced toward them and swiftly collected them while Natasha stared at Bucky with her hand over her mouth. He blushed furiously as Maude chuckled.

"So, Sarge?" She asked hopefully, putting her hand on his forearm and making his heart jump. "You feel like sticking around for some games and then we can break off from these hooligans?"

"Wh-- Oh, yeah, I don't know how you deal with all these kids," he laughed awkwardly.

"Oh, I was talking about those two troublemakers," she replied as she pointed to Sam and Steve, both of whom hid their faces and looked away.

"I'm sorry about them," Bucky whispered. "Maybe we can swap babysitting tactics."

Maude let out a musical laugh, her eyes crinkling as she laughed.

"You're very funny."

“I am? I mean…thanks!”

He wanted to smack himself upside the head. With his metal hand.

“Buckyyyy,” came the cutest whine he’d ever heard. “You’re gonna be my partner in the three-legged race, right?!”

He almost said no, almost, but when he saw Steve, Sam, and Tony tying their ankles to their own mini partners in crime he grabbed Rebecca’s hand with a devious grin.

“Come on sweetheart, let’s show these punks how it’s done!”

A mischievous giggle came from the little girl who did a little hop of excitement, pulling Bucky towards the starting line and grabbing a piece of rope from Maude. He took the rope and bent down, tying his thick leg to Rebecca's small calf. The sight itself was enough for Bucky to let out a breathy chuckle.

"Good luck you two" Maude whispered, as she moved past them and continued telling everyone the rules.

As Bucky watched her moving down the lineup of people, a snapping noise came from beside him, "Hey lover boy! Eyes on me!" Her stern face in full gear. "I need your head in the game here, got it? Listen to me. I'll call out which leg. Okay?"

Bucky couldn't help but laugh and scrunch up his nose as he gave her a short salute, "Yes ma'am"

She huffed at him and settled into a little crouch that he recognized was her starting stance. He hurried into his own crouch as Maude called out “On your mark…Get set…Go!”

Instantly Rebecca was pulling on Bucky, chanting “Left, left, left right left” like the world's smallest drill sergeant.

Bucky couldn't help the burst of giggles that spilled from his lips as Rebecca's brows furrowed further, determination spread across her face as she called out to him. He could hear the sweet sound of Maude laughing from the sidelines and it took everything in him not to look over and admire the way her features glow when she smiles.

"Come'on dinosaur! We're almost there!" Rebecca taunted, elbowing his thigh. If he wasn't made of pure muscle, he probably would have flinched, but instead, another laugh fell from his chest as he continued their rhythm.

Within two hobbled steps Bucky and Rebecca crossed the finish line, tumbling through the paper streamer. Sam groaned behind him followed by Tony yelling about how being enhanced doesn't count. All that mattered to Bucky was the biggest grin he had ever seen plastered over Rebecca's face.

"I did it!" She yelled, pumping her fists into the air. He knelt down next to her, untying the string with a raised brow. Her little eyes found his, "We did it!" She smirked.

Without thinking, he picked her up, swinging her around with a chuckle, "Couldn't have done it without ya, little one."

Rebecca started to giggle as Bucky spun her around, her tiny hands grasping the collar of his jacket. He felt warmth flood his cheeks as he paraded his new best friend around the finish line, soaking in the cheers from everyone around them. His smile was wider than ever before, and there was a small scratching at the back of his throat. He felt like he almost- yeah, those were definitely tears filling his eyes.

This was nothing compared to winning a fight. This felt a million times better.

He placed Rebecca back on the ground and gently ruffled her hair. “You’re a good partner in crime,” he said with a smirk.

Rebecca scowled and flattened her hair with her hands.

“I know, old man.” She jumped back and tried to curtsy, but tripped slightly on her own little feet. She giggled again, reaching into her pocket.

“Now go get Maude some hot chocolate. I have money to spend,” she sang. She waved three, folded-up dollar bills in his face - the blood money from Sam and Steve - and took off running into a group of other kids.

"Wish me luck," he muttered to himself, a smile plastered on his face as he watched the little girl run to her friends showing off her small wad of cash.

He got up and turned, immediately finding Maude standing a little to the side, her gentle eyes already on him. He gave her a small, shy grin as he came to stop in front of her as his hands fidgeted together.

"You're very good with the kids, Sergeant," Maude whispered to him, her eyes drifted to Rebecca as her laughter echoed across the room before returning back to look up at him.

Bucky felt the blush cover his face and the tips of his ears as he swept a hand through his hair to pull it away from his face, noticing how her eyes followed the movement.

"Tha-- thank you. I don't want them to be afraid of me," he stammered, not knowing how best to express his gratitude for her delicate way of handling the kids and him.

"And, Rebecca is a sweetheart. Reminds me of my baby sister." He finished, looking back at the kid playing with her friends, fighting back tears.

"So, how 'bout that hot chocolate, Miss Maude?" Bucky gathered himself enough to throw a grin her way, offering her his flesh hand only to be surprised when she linked her hand through the metal one, squeezing it gently.

Bucky walked her to the cart, ordering the drink just the way Rebecca had instructed. Cream, and the special sprinkles, shaped like snowflakes. He handed her the cup gently and reaching for his own too late he watched the cart girl pile whipped cream atop it. He scowled, taking the cup. The temperature scalding against his palm from the thin paper cup was nothing compared to the heat that formed in his chest as he listened to the sound of an approving giggle leaving Maude's lips.

He sipped on his, letting it burn his tongue in a pitiful attempt to bring himself back to reality.

"What?" He asked, nervously as she looked up at him through her soft, thick lashes.

"You have," she giggled, pausing to set her hot chocolate down on the table. She pushed herself precariously onto her tiptoes, leaning against him for stability and brushed her hand against the corner of his scowling mouth. "Whipped cream on your face, Sergeant."

Bucky stopped breathing as her face came within inches of his, unsure what to do as she cleaned his lips with the delicate pad of her thumb. "All better," she whispered, her warm, sweet breathing rolling across his cheek as she settled back on the floor.

A collective chime of oooo's and hushed cheering came from just beyond the doors in the hall. Steve, Sam and Rebecca were hovering by the door watching them with rosy cheeks and big smiles on their faces. Rebecca was giving him two thumbs up and raising her eyebrows up and down.

"Why don't we go somewhere without an audience?" She asked, picking her cup back up and tugging on his arm.

Once they were outside, Maude linked their free arms together and looked up at him with a smile. Bucky returned it, immediately getting lost in her eyes.

He studied her for a moment. Admiring the way the orange and yellow hues of the late autumn sunset accentuated her features, how slight golden flecks shone in her deep brown eyes under this light.

"You're eyes a-" he stopped himself, taking a small breath willing his thumping heart to finish the sentence, "You are beautiful, Maude."

Maude's cheeks turned pink, a delighted smile popping up, "Oh - you are so sweet."

"I..." He laughed nervously, "Sheesh, I used to be good at all this," he scratched the back of his neck.

"But you really are beautiful - I couldn't get you outta my head all afternoon."

They came to a stop in front of a park a short distance from the community center, turning to face each other.

Maude reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair out of his face again, "You're pretty good looking yourself you know?"

Bucky's skin could have started a fire with his blush alone, a soft smile coming across his face that scrunched his nose. Maude's returning smile was blinding as they walked further down the block, the sounds of the city slightly muffled by the brick buildings around them.

"What?" she asked. "You can't tell me that there's not a line out the door waiting for a chance with someone like you."

He took a sip of his drink, using it as a shield to hide the flicker of sorrow across his face.

"Not surprisingly, not many people are interested in a century old basket case on a government watch list."

Maude hummed in acknowledgement of his self-deprecating comment. She stopped suddenly, turning his body slightly toward her. Her hand travelled down the length of his arm before tangling her fingers in his hand. Bucky's breath caught in his throat as she looked up at him, soft and glowing in the dimming autumn sunlight.

"Well, I guess that makes me the exception," she murmured, squeezing his fingers gently.

It took him a few heartbeats to even realize she was holding his left hand, warming the cool metal and leaving him even more desperate to feel her skin on his.

His heart was beating in his throat as he felt Maude inching closer to him. He could hear her fluttering heartbeat as his eyes travelled over her beautiful face under his lashes.

He knew exactly what he wanted to do next. Something he wanted to do ever since he laid eyes on her.

Closing the last inches between them, his hot breath fanning over her as he gently placed his lips onto hers. Softly, she sighed as she pressed her body closer to his.

Slowly, Bucky brought his right hand to Maude’s waist. Her cardigan was soft under his palm, grounding him as he moved his lips in a kiss so delicate he wasn’t sure it could even be classed as a kiss.

His nose brushed hers as he pulled away slightly and huffed out a gentle laugh.

“Sorry, it’s… uh, it’s been a while. I’m not sure if—“ his words died abruptly as Maude's mouth captured his again, warm and dizzying as she ran her tongue over his bottom lip.

He groaned softly. She tasted like whipped cream and chocolate that was perfectly sweet. Bucky's stomach was in knots, wondering if he was going to screw this up, but instinct seemed to take over as he tilted his head slightly to the side and she deepened the kiss.

He pulled her close, her body warm and flush against his. Bucky wanted her as close to her as possible. She smelled so good, and she was so soft. Her lips felt like silk as they massaged his. He could feel her hand slide along his left shoulder, up his neck and into his hair, playing with the strands at the back of his neck as her tongue flicked gently against his.

She pulled back slowly and he felt his cheeks flush. Maude took a deep breath and bit her lip.

"Sorry, I'm not usually so forward." She paused, obviously seeing the nervousness in his eyes. "That was great, by the way."

Bucky grinned as she giggled.

"S'okay. I appreciate you taking the initiative, darlin'."

“Anytime Sarge,” she winked at him, sliding her hands back down his neck to rest on his broad chest.

Bucky kept his metal hand gentle on Maude’s waist as he picked up one of her hands and pressed his lips to the palm.

“Thank you,” Bucky murmured against her skin, his clear blue eyes meeting her dark ones, soft with understanding. She turned his face and pressed her lips to his again.

“Like I said, anytime,” Maude smiled softly, Bucky pulled her close before releasing her, the two resuming their walk.

Her fingers intertwined with his metal ones once more, a part of him floating at finally feeling a semblance of happiness and another part of him wishing he could feel his hand in her own.

Bucky cleared his throat softly, glancing down at her. "Maude?," dark eyes raised to his with that same warm smile that made his giant frame melt, "Would...uh--can we..." He stammered, unsure of how to ask and even more unsure if she would even understand why, "would you mind if, uhm we changed hands?" He asked as their walk came to a stop.

Her brows knitted for a moment, her fingers dropping from his with his heart in his chest.

"I just don't feel a lot with this hand," He said flexing his metal fingers and glancing down at the one part of him he still had trouble accepting, "and I'd really like to feel you." Bucky's eyes lifted to hers once more.

The corners of her plush lips turned upwards as she took a step towards him, pressing them to the corner of his mouth. "Of course, Bucky."

The butterflies in his stomach exploded into a whirlwind of flutters as she rounded him, linking her hand to his. Her skin was warm and soft against his calloused hands making it that much harder not to spend the rest of the afternoon kissing her.

His heart fluttered in a way he didn’t recognize. For a second, he panicked. This is it. Of course. I finally find a girl I like and I have a goddamn heart attack. They started walking again, and as Maude slowly traced along his thumb with hers, he realized the flutter was something else entirely.

“I like you,” he blurted out.

He immediately sucked a deep breath in and held it in his lungs. He didn’t even realize he had said it out loud. Maybe she didn’t hear! They had another few blocks before they were back at the hall, and he was sure she was about to drop his hand, turn and run.

But then Maude giggled- the sweetest, lightest giggle he had ever heard. He exhaled a sigh of relief. And he swore that his eyeballs had been ripped out and replaced with giant cartoon hearts.

“I like you too, Sergeant” she whispered, continuing their pace. She wrapped her warm hand a little tighter around his.

His blush deepened while his grin grew wide, almost hurting his cheeks, and his heart stuttered before beating fast like a hummingbird. They walked hand in hand for the few blocks left, the closer they got, the more reluctant Bucky was about having to share her attention again with the rest of his teammates.

By the time they got to the entrance, Bucky was concentrating very hard on not closing his hand too tightly around Maude's because he didn't want to let go just yet.

"We're back…" he whispered hesitantly, not making a move to go inside.

She turned and smiled sweetly up at him, her lovely eyes captivating him to the point he almost lost focus and didn't hear her.

"It'll just be a few more minutes. I'll announce the winners and bid everyone goodbye and then," she stood on her tiptoes bringing herself closer to his cheek to press a quick, soft kiss on it, "I'm all yours, Sergeant."

She pulled on his hand and walked ahead of him while he followed her, stupidly looking after the woman who already had his heart in the palm of her hand, the ghost of her lips rendering him speechless.

As they entered the busy hall Maude pulled him over to the front table where all the pumpkins had been lined up. Bucky's jaw tensed, his chest filled with what felt like lightning as he watched her interact with one of the more impatient children behind her.

"Don't go anywhere," she smiled at him.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he smiled back at her, wondering when he had found himself. The version of him that had been beaten, abused and locked away for the last seventy years. The Bucky that loved the future, dancing and chasing after pretty girls. But as quickly as he found that innocent, flirty boy, his feelings were overcome by a familiar sense of dread and guilt.

"Don't worry," Rebecca linked her hand to his and looked up at him. "I know you're geriatric and lacking people skills, but your pumpkin carving skills are pretty good, we'll definitely win the contest."

Bucky looked down at her, confusion knitted into his heavy brows.

"Mr. Wilson said you had good knife skills. It's why I picked you," she whispered. "Don't tell the other kids I rigged the system, they already hate me. They say I'm loud and weird."

"I can see why," Bucky mumbled but laughed as her face turned angry, "don't ever let their words change you. Keep being funny and kind. It suits you. I needed a friend today and you were the only one brave enough to be mine." He smiled at her watching her tone change again, softness flooding her features as she nodded and straightened her shoulders. "Now let's win this contest."

"I hope you kissed Miss Maude, maybe it'll swing the contest in our favor..." Rebecca whispered.

"A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell," he said softly, looking down at her with narrowed eyes.

Bucky saw her eyes slowly get impossibly wide, her jaw agape in surprise.

"You totally did, we're SO winning." she whisper-yelled squeezing his hand and bouncing slightly on her tiptoes.

He brought his finger to his lips in a shushing motion, holding back a smile.

"Of course, we're gonna win Becs. Cause our pumpkin is the coolest up there. Not because of me and Miss Maude, that's our secret, okay?"

Rebecca pressed her lips together in a tight smile and brought her free hand up to Bucky's metal one, motioning for a pinky promise. Bucky's heart swelled as he carefully wrapped his finger in hers.

When they straightened back up to await the judging, he quickly found Maude's gaze and threw her a wink. He smiled, watching the soft pink flush gather at her cheeks.

Bucky took Rebecca's hand, grinning down at her while Maude, Pepper and Happy walked up and down the table. If it was anyone but Pepper, he would have questioned why the girlfriend of an Avenger was judging them - but the redhead had proven to be a voice of reason dozens of times in the past, so he trusted her.

Time seemed to tick by, and Rebecca quickly grew impatient with the wait.

"What's taking them so long?" She asked in a loud whisper.

Bucky shrugged but nodded to the front as Maude clapped her hands to get the group's attention.

"Alright everyone - after some careful consideration, we've picked the winners!" She looked around the room, pausing for a second to give Bucky a large, cheerful smile. The third and second-place pumpkins were announced, by Happy and Pepper, before Maude moved down the table to the end. She stopped in front of Bucky and Rebecca's pumpkin, "In first place - Rebecca and Bucky!"

Rebecca squealed and grabbed Bucky's arm, nearly shaking his entire body with the force of her overjoyed jumping. Bucky couldn't help but laugh out loud, ruffling her hair with his free arm.

"Oh, alright! I see how it is!" Sam exclaimed, pushing his chair back in semi-mock outrage as Steve put his face in his hand. "It's easy to win when you make goo-goo eyes at the judge all day, Barnes!"

"You can't win 'em all, Wilson!" Bucky shouted back as Rebecca pulled him to the front of the room for their prize.

"Yeah, Wilson!" Rebecca exclaimed, sticking her tongue out at him as Maude gave the little girl a large ribbon.

Maude stood on her tiptoes to place a soft kiss on Bucky's cheek and fixed him with a broad smile as Sam continued to halfheartedly grumble. Bucky looked down at Rebecca and her ribbon, mischief glinting in his icy blue eyes.

"Wait, so if she gets a ribbon...what's my prize?" he asked Maude softly.

Maude tapped her chin, eyes up at the ceiling as she pretended to contemplate her answer.

"Would my number work? Then maybe a date?" she replied cheekily before blushing just as furiously as Bucky.

"He's gotta learn how to use a phone first!" Sam yelled across the room with a ferocity that made even Steve laugh out loud.

Bucky covered Rebecca's eyes before flipping him off behind Maude's back, grinning like a madman even though for once he didn't feel crazy at all. He brushed a strand of her thick hair behind her ear, returning the favor she had given him all afternoon.

"Sounds like a plan, doll."

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queermania · 1 year

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yesterday i was talking with @swordofsun and @ilarual about the cold open of 'atomic monsters' (where dean is losing against fighting super bloodfreak sammy, and benny is also there) and we were discussing whether or not cas (not castiel the angel, but cas) existed in that universe. we came to the conclusion that yes he could exist in that universe but the timeline would have to diverge in s8, probably around the time of 'citizen fang' and most likely cas would be dead by the time the events of 'atomic monsters' take place (perhaps killed by sam?).

but we also floated the idea of cas never having gotten out of purgatory, so when sam kills benny, benny goes back to purgatory and meets up with cas there.

but... dean doesn't go to purgatory when sam kills him. and now i can't stop thinking about a scenario where all that happens, but when sam kills dean, dean goes to hell instead of heaven (for any number of reasons) and he's so enraged about all of it that he decides to take over hell. he leans into the torture and he brings hell to its knees just so that when sam finishes his reign of terror on earth and finally comes down to hell, he's not the one in charge. he's the boy king but he's not the ruler.

meanwhile, benny has found cas in purgatory and relayed everything that's happened on earth and now they have to figure out how to get out of purgatory and then eventually into hell. and when they do get there they find dean and are horrified join his demon army.

basically i'm thinking about a civil war between the boy king of hell and his brother—the guy who can inspire demons via torture.

ruby will also be there somehow. the logistics are not important to me.

#mp

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snappedsky · 1 year

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Fanatics 98.1

Squee goes up against some old enemies.

*Links to previous and next chapters in reblog*

War for Earth Part 1

“Okay!” Zim booms, “let’s go over what’s happened so far.”

“Olivia has assembled a few of our old enemies to join her Hell army to battle us for Earth,” he explains, “taking advantage of the impending chaos, the Irken Armada is also coming. But we also have two armies coming to assist us: the Resisty and the SDA.”

“You also got us,” Jeff points out, pointing to himself, Serena, and Bianca.

“Yeah, yeah,” Zim replies dismissively. “Now the Armada will be here in about 8 hours. The Resisty and the SDA should be here before then. We have no idea when Olivia’s army will attack, but I’m betting she’ll take advantage of the Armada’s attack. We have to be ready before then. Anything to add?”

Pepito nudges Squee. “Didn’t you want to tell us something?”

“Oh…um…that can wait,” he replies, “this is more important.”

“What about all the civilians?” Dib asks, “if we’re gonna be fighting a war in the city, we can’t risk innocent people getting hurt.”

“We can talk to our dad about some kind of lockdown,” Serena replies.

“He won’t listen to us,” Jeff points out.

“Probably not right away, but when shit starts going down, he’ll do something.”

“Alright, let’s call him.”

Serena grabs her cell phone and they both step away to make the call.

“We should probably be worried about Olivia’s super team,” Pepito points out, “not only are they four of the most vengeful and powerful enemies we’ve ever had, they’ll also be powered up by Olivia. If possible, we should take care of them right away.”

“Alright,” Zim agrees, “any ideas on how we can do that?”

“Maybe we can draw them out somehow,” Gaz suggests, “ambush them?”

“What would all four of them be interested in?” Tak asks.

“Johnny,” Squee states.

Everyone looks at him with surprise.

“Think about it. All four of them wanted to kill Johnny.”

“So we use Johnny as bait?” Dib suggests.

“No, no, I didn’t say that,” Squee argues.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Zim remarks.

“It’s a terrible idea.”

“And he’s pretty unstoppable so he might even be able to take them all down himself,” Gaz adds.

“Ugh,” Squee groans with frustration, dragging his hands down his face. “Alright, fine. Maybe we use Johnny to draw them out. But I wanna be the one who leads the attack on them. I’m not letting Nny face them by himself.”

“That’s a good idea,” Zim agrees, “you lead the attack on the super team with a couple others while the rest of us stay behind to prepare for the war. Who do you wanna bring?”

Squee looks back at Bianca and Jeff and Serena, who have finished their call. “Those three. And Tak.”

“Us?” Bianca questions.

“Why them?” Pepito asks.

“The poltergeists never would’ve fought them so they won’t know what to expect,” Squee replies, “and I have some new tricks too.”

“Very well,” Zim nods, “they’re yours to command.”

“Hey,” Tak snaps, “I’ll work with Squee, but nobody commands me.”

“Whatever,” he grunts then clears his throat. “From here on, the five of you will be the Battalion’s Forward Force.”

“BFF,” Serena grins with amusement.

“Gross,” Bianca scoffs.

“But how do we get Johnny to draw them out?” Dib asks.

“I’m gonna call him and see what he thinks,” Squee replies as he grabs his phone. He dials the house phone, but there’s no answer. “Hm. Maybe he’s in the basement. I’ll call Devi.”

No answer.

“Tenna?”

No answer.

Squee’s hand trembles as he lowers his phone.

“They’re probably just busy, you know?” Pepito suggests hopefully.

“M-maybe,” Squee agrees weakly. Then his face sets darkly as he grips his phone. “I’m going over there.”

“By yourself?” Pepito asks.

“I can get there faster on my own,” he replies as he heads for the door.

“Squee, wait,” Zim orders but it’s too late. As soon as he’s outside, Squee zooms away on his rocket wheelies.

“So much for the BFF,” Serena remarks drily.

“We’ll go after him,” Tak declares.

“How are we gonna get there?” Jeff asks.

“You can’t take the Epic, we’ll need it,” Zim replies.

“We can take the van,” Serena suggests, “it’s still parked at the manor.”

“Fine, let’s hurry,” Tak demands and she, Serena, Jeff, and Bianca head out.

Meanwhile, Squee flies deftly through the city, down the streets, around the people and traffic, until he reaches Grave Road. He skids to a stop in front of his house and looks around in horror.

The front door and windows are all smashed and there are small craters and burn marks all over the yard and road. It’s as if a great battle already took place.

“Squee!” Colton cries as he comes rushing out of his house. “You will not believe what just happened!”

A chill shoots up Squee’s spine. “Colton, get back inside!” he barks.

Colton stops as something flies off the roof. A large creature lands just beside him, knocking him down. He backpedals and scurries into his house but the creature pays him no mind.

It’s over seven feet tall with furry hocked legs leading to hooves, a long black tail, and two large curled horns coming out of messy black hair. It’s almost naked except for torn orange shorts. And clutched in his big claw is Johnny.

He’s covered in blackened burns, gashes, and cuts. He digs at the grip with his fingers, tearing and cutting, but the demon is undeterred.

It turns to look at Squee, and while it has burning red eyes and large fangs, its face is still very recognizable.

“Mussolini,” he croaks, and the demon smiles.

“Welcome to the party,” he purrs, “so nice of you to join us.”

Three more figures jump down behind him and Squee turns. There’s a man with short black hair, empty black eyes, and long fangs that stick out of his lips. There are claws on his fingers and toes, long and sharp like knives, and spikes are protruding out of his spine and both shoulders.

Another man has four nubby horns sticking out of his messy brown hair. His eyes are wild and red and his smile is even wilder and fanged. His arms and legs have been elongated to over twice the length of a normal human and he stands on them like a spider.

Finally there’s a woman with long, crazy black hair that floats around her head, almost like it has a mind of its own. Her eyes are white but angry and her cheeks are split from the corners of her mouth. Out of her back are two demonic wings.

“Reggie the Ripper, Drey the Woman-Killer, and Ava the Man-Hater,” Squee breathes.

“Squee C,” Reggie snarls, “the brat who had us trapped in that notebook for years.”

“I so want to make you pay,” Drey grins.

“After we’ve finished with Johnny,” Ava adds.

“Squee,” Johnny croaks, his voice muffled from Mussolini crushing his throat. “R-run.”

Squee glares darkly at the demons surrounding him as he draws his knives. “Not this time. Not ever again.”

#invader zim #invader zim fanfiction #johnny the homicidal maniac #johnny the homicidal maniac fanfiction #iz jthm crossover #myocs #myart

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redleavesinthewind · 2 years

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📖!!!!!!

hiii let’s see, what can i tell you about… let’s do the chilling adventures of sabrina au!!

(note that i haven’t seen that show except for like. a very good video analysing it. but the vibes, THE VIBES. this is only very vaguely inspired by those vibes)

anyway so dean and sam are both witches, but dean is much older than sam, who’s about to turn 22. their parents are dead, so they live with rowena.

so now the thing is, on his 22nd birthday sam is supposed to officially become a part of the coven, but the problem with that is that 1) sam kinda just wants to do his own thing and 2) rowena ignores the coven mostly and dean is exciled from the coven for reasons he refuses to talk about, so sam isn’t sure he really wants to join anyway. HOWEVER the thing is. if he doesn’t join the coven they’re gonna take his powers away

now the day before his birthday, shit goes down. everyone wants sam. demons show up out of nowhere telling him they want him to rule hell, the angels wanna get him to help them bring on the apocalypse, and the witches are still pressuring him. so he just runs away.

dean can’t follow cause he’s under house arrest for those reasons he refuses to talk about, but he gives sam the name of someone who’s gonna help him. guess what the name is. okay i’ll tell you, it’s castiel

so sam runs away, meets eileen, and summons an angel. now, cas is confused why sam thinks he would help him, but some weird feeling makes him stick around. this is where the specifics fizzle out, but at some point sam finds out that all three factions want one specific super powerful sword that was stolen about a hundred years ago by an angel and a witch who had an epic forbidden love story, and that everyone thinks that sam knows where it is. sam’s like. why would i know??? and cas is like. why does this story sound so intimately familiar. meanwhile dean and rowena are frantically researching spells trying to reverse what they did to hide the sword, knowing that right now, dean is the sword.

anyway that’s the chilling adventures of sam winchester

#spn #the chilling adventures of sam winchester #elliot’s aus #elliot answers #hi peter!

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sarah-dipitous · 5 months

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Hellsite Nostalgia Tour 2023 Day 306

Stranger in a Strange Land

“Stranger in a Strange Land”

Plot Description: Sam coordinates efforts to search for his brother. Jack struggles to adapt to life as a human. Castiel tries to get more intel on Dean from a demon

Would I Survive the First Five Minutes??: Nope. If the archangel Michael came to me and threatened me with the question of what I want, I’d also say peace and love. And he would also kill me for the times in my life where I did not exhibit the desire for those things

I love how alive and bustling the bunker is with the apocalypse world refugees

Sam is WAY overworking himself. You’re not good, kiddo

Really? Castiel spent like two seasons palling around with Crowley, and you think he wouldn’t consult with some lower level demon? (Hey, what’s goin on with the power vacuum in hell? Lucifer is dead, Crowley is dead, and all the princes of hell are also dead as far as I know. So is it just chaos down there now?)

“How did you lose Dean? I thought you two were joined at the…everything” 👀 this demon though

Ah fuck nooooooo. Cas got ambushed. Everyone in this restaurant is apparently a demon, and he’s getting his ass handed to him

Oh, Jo’s back on the sort of grifting.

I was right about Michael last time. Not only is he Bella Swan of spn but he still fucking sucks. I miss Dean

Sam getting to be big brotherly is actually really sweet. He had a good role model for that growing up and with his own experiences with losing powers and his own empathy

Oh. Fuck. How?? How is Nick (Lucifer’s vessel this whole time) not dead?! I don’t super trust this…despite seeing the wing imprint when Luci died

Ooooo Sam’s gonna be at his wits end soon. He just got Mary and Jack back, lost Dean, and now that demon is threatening Cas

Sam is the opposite of Shanks (from one piece. Sorry, Mary. You’re learning things about one piece tonight.) Shanks wouldn’t put a kid (Luffy) in danger just because the kid said they’re ready. Sam believes Jack needs this (going on the mission to save Castiel). “Better a disappointed kid now than a dead one later.”

Did this…did this demon get visited by Michael? And he’s still alive?! He just said someone asked him what he wanted. That’s what Michael has been asking everyone

Ok. This guy wants to rule hell now. Omg. He’s trying so hard to be Crowley A Bit To the Left and FAILING. It’s embarrassing watching him, honestly. Do you know what’s even funnier? Watching him try to intimidate Sam while being pretty much a full head shorter…Crowley could have, but this guy ain’t got the jennies (certain je ne sais quoi). It was too much, calling everyone darling every five seconds

When did Jack learn parkour?? (Megumi also recently learned parkour…maybe they learned together because I don’t know where she got it either)

Not to ship Jack and Maggie because they’re practically the only two teens in this whole group and he’s pretty protective of her, but I do want to see him form genuine bonds with people outside the Winchester family

Well, they’re goes that demon’s plan to rule hell. Why does Sam think he can dictate whether or not there will be a king of hell??

I’m glad Sam and Cas can be open and honest with each other

Apocalypse World Bobby, are you gonna fuck Sam and Dean’s mom??

“You did well” “all I did was get punched in the face” “to be fair, we all got punched in the face” conversations between Cas and Jack never disappoint

Why does grace regenerate now? When Metatron took Cas’s it was just GONE. Is it an archangel thing? A nephilim thing? An archangel sired nephilim thing? A plot hole??

I don’t trust this call, and not just because it’s from an unknown number (though Sam probably shouldn’t answer those either) oh, it’s Jo

Is Michael teaming up with monsters?? That’s terrible and yet…it’s intriguing at least. It’s probably the most interesting thing he’s done

#hellsite nostalgia tour 2023

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moodybluemegamind · 3 years

Text

it’s not a teenage fixation if it doesn’t come back to fucking haunt you in the worst ways possible

#cas if ur reading this in super hell #can i join ya #spn

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chocolatecakecas · 3 years

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Quality Family Time: Baby Jack ficlet

for the bah discord besties<3

In Dean's humble opinion, the week was off to a pretty good start. Sunday, he and Cas took Jack to the library and let him go wild in the children's section, then let him run off his "excitement about literature" in the park, ending with lunch at their favorite diner, which is Dean's humble opinion qualifies as a pretty great Sunday afternoon. And then Sammy and Eileen finished up their hunt earlier than expected, and they even brought back Claire and Kaia as a surprise. Meaning they got to all have a much-needed family dinner, movie night, and catch up with the girls. And they decided to stay for a few days, which meant extra babysitters, which really meant, he and Cas could have their date night this week. And of course it also meant Dean had a few days to just hang out with his family, watch some movies, watch his kids bond, run some stupid errands, cook some big meals.

Now it was Wednesday, and Dean was spending the day with Eileen and Jack, while the others opted to help Sam with the supply run. Eileen was getting a movie queued up for Jack's nap, while Dean got a start on some laundry.

(read the rest under the cut)

He was currently running out to the garage to grab the blanket he keeps folded in Baby's trunk, smiling fondly at the memory of Monday's date night.

So yeah as far as Wednesdays go, Dean was having a pretty good one.

At least, he was.

Dean's stomach dropped as he flicked the lights on, barely registering the clang of his keys hitting the floor, standing frozen in the doorway.

He's hallucinating, he must be. There's absolutely no way that-

He squeezed his eyes shut, counting to ten while he tried to will away the hallucination with his mind. But unfortunately for Dean, he didn't have that kind of mind power, because that thing was still sitting there when he opened his eyes.

Fuck.

Forcing his feet to move, Dean stepped further into the garage, reaching out a shaking hand as he inched forward.

He'll just touch it and his hand will go through it, and he can blame this hallucination on that questionable burger he ate at some local joint they all went to last night. It'll be fi-

Dean's blood turned to ice as his hand connected with cool metal. He quickly jumped back in shock, jaw hitting the floor.

Because last time he checked, Dean didn't leave an 18 foot long Lightning McQueen sitting in his beloved Baby's parking spot.

He tried to speak but all that came out was an incoherent squeak, as he raced around the car inspecting every inch of it.

He couldn't get any of the doors open or the hood for that matter, but as far as he could tell it seemed to be a real car, despite being a cartoon look-a-like.

Well, at least it wasn't talking.

"Ka-chow"

Dean slumped over onto the roof of the car, banging his head, fists following in defeat.

Because there was a Lightning McQueen look-a-like with a toy voice box, parked in the garage of their super top-secret underground Bunker, in place of one of his most prized possessions.

Maybe he spoke too soon about having a pretty good Wednesday.

Why is this happening? How did this thing get in here? Where is his Baby? Is she alright? Can he even get her back? How the hell did this ev-

Son of a bitch.

"Jack!" Dean called, voice coming out more strangled than he'd care to admit.

Of course. Cars had become Jack's new obsession over the past week, they first watched it on Friday night and he's insisted on watching it at least once a day ever since.

Dean groaned scrubbing his hands down his face. There's truly never a dull moment with a half-Nephilim toddler.

Jack probably didn't even realize what happened. Sometimes his powers react before his mind can catch up with them, like when he subconsciously made all of his toys come to life after Toy Story became his favorite movie. The kid probably didn't even know about the Cars wannabe parked in the garage, besides his kid would never tamper with Bab-

"Dee! You found Lightning!"

Dean's jaw once again found its way back down to the floor. His own kid.

He turned to see his four-year-old come bounding into the garage, practically bursting with joy.

"What the hell"

Dean tore his gaze away from Jack to see Eileen frozen in the doorway, who's jaw also joined Dean's on the floor.

"Look see it's just like Lightning, Dee!" Jack cheered as he ran over to check out the car, regaining Dean's attention.

"Uh...ye-yeah buddy. I-I can see that bu-" Dean began sounding pained, only to be cut off by Jack.

"It's a real car, Dee. You can drive it! And look I gots all the stickers on it too"

"Yeah kiddo, bu-"

"And it can talk too! It says all of Lightning's things! Do you like it Dee? Where you surprised?" Jack asked as he wrapped himself around Dean's legs, smiling up at him without a care in the world.

Dean still mostly in shock, glanced up at Eileen who looked to be in the same boat, except she was holding back barely contained laughter.

Great no help from his best friend, traitor. So Dean shakily knelt down placing his hands on Jack's shoulders.

"Listen, Squirt. I was definitely surprised. But yo-"

"Oh my god"

Dean's head jerked up to see Sam, Cas, Claire, and Kaia now standing with Eileen in the doorway, dropped grocery bags spilling out onto the floor. All of them too stunned to move, except for Cas who luckily must have noticed the distress in Dean's eyes.

"Jack, Baby. What is this?" Cas asked, quickly making his way over to them, quickly kneeling down beside Dean.

"I made Baby into Lightning! Ta da!"

"Wait, that thing is my Baby?" Dean asked voice cracking.

And of course, that's what did it.

Sam doubled over in laughter, Eileen, Claire, and Kaia quickly following, and Cas was beside him, clearly trying to conceal his laughter.

"God this is the best thing I've ever seen" Sam wheezed in the background, and if Dean weren't still reeling he'd walk right over and punch him.

Cas placed a grounding hand on Dean's shoulder, all while trying to bite back his smile. Well, Dean appreciated the gesture, at least he was trying to be considerate, unlike some people he knew.

"Bug, do you remember what Daddy and I told you about using your powers?" Cas begins, trying and failing to sound stern.

"That I can't make my toys be alive! And I didn't Baby isn't alive, and she's not even a toy!" Jack explains with a smile.

"Yea-yeah Squirt, but the second part of that little talk was that you shouldn't use your powers unless you ask Daddy, or me, or Uncle Sammy or Aunt Eileen, remember?" Dean supplied after he finally got his gears spinning again.

"Ooooohhh. Oops, sorry!"Jack shrugs and he even had half a mind to at least look a little bit sorry, but it's drowned out by another fresh wave of laughter.

"I'm so glad we decided to stay longer, does stuff like this happen all the time?" Kaia laughed behind him, as Claire wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Oh I'm so glad my distress is amusing to all of you!" Dean shot back, voice still a little unsteady, which only caused them to laugh harder. Cas met his eyes, as he squeezed his shoulder, scooting closer.

"Squirt it's okay, just uh don't do it again....now where exactly is the real Baby?" Dean asked cutting right to the chase, not missing the look Cas gave him for glossing over the whole "don't use your powers without asking" lesson.

But there was time for that later, because right now his Baby was currently a firetruck red cartoon racecar with eyes.

"That is Baby. I just made her look like that, it's her. See!" Jack explained jumping up and dragging Dean over. Everyone else followed suit, Sam giving him a shit eating grin as he handed Dean the discarded keys.

To Dean's surprise, the key unlocked the car just like baby, and the interior looked exactly the same.

"Wow kid, this is honestly pretty cool" Claire complimented with a low whistle, which earned her a death glare from Dean, only making her laugh harder.

Unbelievable. All of his kids have it out for his car today.

Dean heaved a sigh as he watched his family examine every inch of the car, not bothering to hold back their laughter at this point.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing we didn't watch How to Train Your Dragon" Cas quipped wrapping Dean in his arms as he pressed a quick kiss to his lips. Dean flopped over and laid his forehead on Cas's shoulder, letting a soft laugh escape.

"Yeah well, at least my car wouldn't have been caught in the crossfire" Dean groaned back, feeling Cas' laugh rumble in his chest.

"Yes I know this is a tragedy, clearly the real live dragons would have caused less damage-well less emotional damage anyway"

"Woah, look at that, he's got jokes. Alright everyone step away from the racecar" Dean smirked, yelling that last bit as he pushed away from Cas' chest. He made his way over to Jack who was currently in the driver's seat (keys nowhere near the ignition of course), showing everyone how the horn says McQueen catchphrases now.

"Alright Houdini, while the Lightning McQueen trick was very cool, and we've reminded you that we don't use powers unless we ask. It's time to turn him back into Baby, capiche?" Dean said in the most no-nonsense tone he could manage as he kneelt down to Jack's level.

And of course Dean's very logical, very simple, very warranted request resulted in an uproar from his family.

"Wait you aren't even gonna take it for a spin?"

"You've literally got thee Lightning McQueen sitting in your garage"

"Dean c'mon one dri-"

"Nope. Not happening. Now way am I driving that thing" Dean cut in, flinging his arms out for emphasis and effectively silencing the traitor-his family.

Then he felt a little tug on his shirt.

"Please Dee? One time, then I change Baby back?" Jack asked with his best puppy dog eyes, and Dean quickly made a mental note to kick Sam's ass for teaching him that.

And as he slowly tilted his head back up, he was met with four pleading faces, all hovering around the car He desperately turned his gaze towards Cas knowing he'd be the voice of reason, he'd neve-

"Well, it would be a waste not to take the car for at least one ride" Cas shrugged almost sheepishly, barely hiding his grin. Dean stared back into his eyes trying to will him to change his mind, but he knew it was pointless.

Dean sighed his defeat, running a hand down his face. Damnit

"Fine, one drive-and I mean one. Twenty minutes tops" He shouted, throwing his hands in air in exasperation as everyone cheered.

And when Dean found himself driving back to the bunker four hours later, he and failed tried to hid his smile. He glanced in the mirror at Claire and Jack passed out, while Kaia and Sam held a whispered conversation in the magically (which Jack may or may not have had a hand in) stretched out backseat. Eileen turned in the front seat joining the conversation, as Cas sat in the middle, pressed up against Dean.

Cas gave his hand a squeezing, shooting him a knowing smile, which only earned a nudge from Dean.

So yeah, maybe Dean did almost have a heart attack earlier in the day. And maybe he did have to let a bunch of annoying people in the next town over pose for pictures with the car when they stopped for dinner. And maybe the horn said "Ka-chow" and "I am speed". And maybe the drive was more than twenty minutes. But in Dean's humble opinion, it was still a pretty good Wednesday after all.

Lightning McQueen be damned.

Tag list pt 1:

@wormstacheangel @smiledean @chaoticdean @midnightwings-deancas @jellydeans @sunshine-jack @archervale @wikiangela @subbydean @organicpurplepants @you-cant-spell-subtext-without

@tkdwolf2012 @doemons-blog @rolling-stoned-girl @skylerkernaghan @icefire149 @dakiaty @seffersonjtarship @angeltiddies @feraldean @teamfreebees @keshetcas @jewishdeanwinchester @martymar1963 @midnight-sparks-studio @aestheticflyer26

@athenixrose @slipper007 @misha-moose-dean-burger-lover @winchester-novak @lyonessrampant @thiscowboyisbisexual @carverera @milfcodeddean @blue-eyed-cutiepatootie

#a very normal fic. nothing weird here at all #very normal<3 #i actually think im really funny #im fine<33333 #nothing strange. just baby jack and a fambly #bec writes #baby jack truthing #destiel fic #destiel #plantdadcas #dean winchester #seraphcastiel #rambleoncas #userzaddy #uservilma

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anika-ann · 3 years

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In the Strangest Place (We Just Might Find Love) - Pt.1

Type: two-shot, pretty much canon

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader Word count: 3700

Summary: You’re hiding from your boss in a supply closet, minding your own business, when a stranger joins you unexpectedly.

This is not a beginning of a steamy story; given the reason you’re hanging out in the dark, even a make-out session is honestly the last thing you want to fantasize about right now.

But that doesn’t mean that the nice stranger cannot make your day much better.

Warnings: mention of sexual harassment, a bit of angst, attempt at humour, language

You were on the verge of screaming – or crying, you honestly weren't sure anymore. But you knew you were done. You had worked your fingers to a bone just to get here; to become a little bee in the most famous hive in Manhattan. Stark Industries. The Stark/Avengers Tower. The beacon of the New York skyline. The dream coming true.

Yeah, not so much.

You hadn't expected super-important assignments – after all, you were just an assistant to the head of one of too many departments – but God, you had not expected to be handling coffee so often. To be running ridiculous errands. Your degree from MIT should actually mean something here! If nothing else than that you were not just some pretty face and that you fucking didn’t deserve the treatment you were receiving.

And that was the root of trouble, really. You could handle making your way up, it would be tiring but not surprising, it was pretty much what you had assigned for.

But you had not assigned for the sexist comments, disgusting innuendo and for the grabby hands of your sleazy boss. Thomas Gregory was a fucking nightmare of a man and you swore that you were quitting if he called you a ‘Dollface’ or slapped your ass one more time.

And that was how you had got here, into this very moment; hiding in a dark supply closet like a creep with two cups of overpriced coffee in a cup holder and a piece of organic carob-nut muffin.

You weren't about to come out any time soon, because you simply knew your boss still would be a pig and give you yet another reason to hand in your notice and you had fucking wanted this job for so long, worked for it so hard and sacrificed too much that you just couldn't make yourself to quit no matter how much your skin cringed and your stomach rolled over every time Thomas Gregory touched you. It was so frustrating you wanted to scream.

Or cry, you still couldn't solve the dilemma. Maybe both.

You barely registered the hurried footsteps – and then the door was yanked open, you glimpsed a tall blond male figure and suddenly there was dark again. Except there was one more body in the very limited room of the closet, making you press your back onto the shelf.

Something rattled with your movement and the newcomer hissed a barely audible ‘Be quiet’ as two columns of muscles that were probably his arms framed your head leaning onto the very same shelf, so you could both fit in here.

The little order leaving his lips broke the last seal inside you. You were tired, frustrated and were receiving enough humiliation as it was, you did not need some random guy invading your hideout, barking orders.

“Look, mister, if you have any problem with me trying to make a little space for you in this tiny-ass closet, I recommend you to-”

“Shh!” he hushed you and you thought you had never heard someone whisper so urgently; at least it sounded less bossy than before. It did not mollify you though, because this guy actually had enough impudence to-

“Don't you dare to shush me-!”

A hand went to cover your mouth and you let out an exasperated mumble of curses, while his voice continued.

“Please, just— I'm sorry, please, don't make a sound, my friend is trying to set me up and-”

Your eyes went wide and he suddenly fell silent. Before you could question his methods of shutting you up, his exclaim or the pause, and ask him to be so kind to find another closet, another male voice sounded somewhere behind the door.

“Come on, Steeeve. Man, don't be such a prude. Lillian is a great chic, okay?”

The man – the friend, you assumed – seemed annoyed and you couldn't believe that Steve had not been kidding you. He was actually hiding for the very reason he had offered you. You nodded as you heard the stranger behind the door move and the hand covering your mouth hesitantly disappeared.

“It's just a lip piercing, don't be such a tight-ass. It can actually be quite fun, you wouldn't believe what a girl can do with such thing…”

“Gross,” you commented soundlessly and you could feel your companion’s eyes burning a hole into your head in silent agreement.

“Goddammit, Steve!”

The voice and the footsteps slowly disappeared in the distance and you… you were face to face with a stranger named Steve in a limited space of a dark supply closet, his breath tickling your scalp, his cologne very much assaulting your nose; at least it was a pleasant assault.

“I'm sorry for being so rude. And thank you,” his voice caressed your hairline gently and hearing his suddenly polite tone and evaluating this whole situation, you could barely hold back a giggle all of sudden.

“You're welcome, Steve. How long has this been going on?”

“Two days-” That didn't sound too bad, he could probably take a lot more- “-at this level. With Lillian. It was Emily before that and Angelina before that. In smaller scale, it's been happening for about four months,” he recited dutifully as if he was reporting a status to his boss and this time you couldn’t help it – you giggled.

When you could feel the wounded gaze he gave you, you obediently made a sympathetic noise.

“Aww, poor you, your friend supplying you with no doubt great relationship material…”

“That’s what he said! But I don't want a relationship material. I don't want any material, not even his… one-night stand material. What does that mean anyway? These are women he's talking about, not a material-”

You let out a tiny pleased sound at his exasperation, which shut him up. You wondered if it was your turn to speak – it was hard to tell, supply-closet conversations weren't exactly your area of expertise.

“Kudos for that thinking,” you noted after short silence and the darker shadow of his figure tilted his head. “Did you try to tell him that you weren't interested…? Of course you did, why am I asking, that was a stupid question…”

“It's okay. I'm sorry, I got a little… carried away. It just… it's like talking to a brick wall.”

You hummed in sympathy again and the room fell into silence once more.

It was ridiculous how much your mind started working over hundred percent, trying to come up with something appropriate to say. The best you could do was:

“Hey, you want a cup of overpriced organic coffee? I happen to have two.”

The needy noise that let his lips was downright pornographic. Or maybe it was your mind playing tricks on you, the strange environment finally getting to you.

“I knew I smelled coffee here! I thought I went completely insane.”

You couldn't help but smile at that. Yeah, you knew the feeling all too well.

“Nope, your senses were not playing tricks on you. Help yourself. It should be around your left hand.” A rustling of a paper bag. “Oh. That's a carob-nut muffin – with carob instead of cocoa. You can have that too, I won't need that.”

“Alright, I gotta ask. Why are you hiding in a supply closet, with a muffin and two cups of expensive coffee nonetheless? And may I hand you one?”

“Such a gentleman. Thanks,” you murmured and accepted the cup. You weren't lying about not needing it – you wouldn't. Because you were about to quit; it was inevitable.

You sipped the warm liquid, its taste as bitter as the reason behind your actions.

“So?”

“I'm hiding from my boss.”

Your voice must have sounded terrible, because his own softened at the confession.

“And why is that?”

“Because if I bring him his coffee and muffin, he'll probably call me his good girl and— and slap my butt and-”

“I beg your pardon?” he growled, like honest to God growled, the strange sound warming your scalp.

And it was the righteous outrage in the sound he let out, the reaction that you needed, someone agreeing with you – a stranger, who wouldn’t feel obliged to do so just it was a duty of being a good friend to you – that made the levee break. Suddenly tears were streaming down your face, anger and humiliation, and your breath was hitching in embarrassing hiccups and the dark space felt so anonymous and safe at the same time that you didn't even care anymore.

“And if he does that I’ll have to– to quit, because I-I'm so fucking fed up with his dis-disgusting hands and si-sickening voice voicing his lizard thoughts a-and I ca-can't quit goddammit, I worked so fucking hard to-to get a job h-here and-”

You didn't realise your hands started trembling until the cup disappeared from them, placed back on the shelf, and a pair of much bigger and warmer hands gently enveloped yours, his body shifting just a little closer as he lost the support that had been keeping some distance between you.

“Hey, hey, shh, it's gonna be okay…” his voice washed over you soothingly, sounding almost at your ear.

Still, there was space between your bodies, a respectable distance – as respectable as possible in the limited space. It was as if he acknowledged it could make you uncomfortable – which probably wasn't exactly hard to figure out, given what you just told him.

“I'm sorry,” you sobbed and cleared your throat afterwards in attempt to compose yourself. “I didn't mean to load that on you, my problems are none of your concern-”

“Like hell they aren't. Sexual harassment on a workplace is everyone's concern, or it should be,” he grunted. His hands tightened their grip, not uncomfortably – reassuring. “This okay?”

You smiled through your tears. This Steve guy was really sweet to you. You almost forgot what it was like to be treated with respect.

“Y-yeah. Thank you for-- for asking. That was really nice.”

He huffed. “It should be a normal human decency. And I did grab you before that, sorry.”

“Something tells me you would let go if I said no more vehemently.”

“Of course I would.”

You gave him a watery smile he couldn't see and tried to calm your breathing completely. His thumb caressing your wrist helped. You wondered which department he was from; if his skills in comforting came with a job description or if he was a natural.

“Have you… have you tried to fill in a report?” he asked hesitantly, making your heart stop.

Oh yeah, you had. It had ended up in a shredder machine, because Thomas had spotted it. He had made you do it yourself, standing over you and watching, claiming the complaint had been baseless and it would pointless to hand it anyway, because he would explain the HR how it truly was. That you had made a move and he, the good father and husband he had been, politely turned you down, which turned you vengeful.

You whispered the story to Steve, your voice trembling, more tears escaping and you could immediately tell he believed you – because his grip grew steely strong, his teeth grinding.

“This is wrong. You should have never been forced to work for a man like him– objectifying you, touching you, threatening you, that's just--- you should talk to Tony,” he blurted out in the end and you frowned.

“Who's Tony?”

You had checked the whole HR department via their website when doing your research. You couldn't recall any Tony.

There was a short pause, broken by Steve's confused voice. “Stark.”

You blinked, wondering if Steve was joking. He didn't sound like he was joking, which was strange, because so far, he had seemed to be a smart and reasonable man.

“There's no way I'm scoring a meeting with Mr. Stark. And it's not like he’s dealing with things like that.”

“...Talk to Pepper then. I doubt she has bigger than zero tolerance for harassment,” he exclaimed confidently as if talking to Pepper Potts (this time you assumed whom he was talking about – did he call all of the big bosses their first name…?) was an option for a regular human being like you. Realizing that all over again though, that was tough.

“While I believe that’s her policy, it's not like I can just walk into her office.”

Steve seemed to consider that, while his thumb was still drawing patterns on your skin, almost subconsciously.

“I think you could. But if you're worried it might take a while and you’re scared to go back to your office now, let me walk you. I can explain him that every employee deserves to be treated with respect,” he offered finally, deadly serious, yet still sounding kind.

Your heart swelled. A guy you just met (in a supply closet, a good story to be narrated at parties, you supposed), suggested to help you out, no hesitation. God, wasn't he just too pure for this world?

“I… thank you, Steve. But… while you do have an impressive frame, I think it would only get worse. I think I'll just enjoy this extremely hipster coffee, which I'll later have to pay for no doubt and… and go face my boss to hand him my resignation. There are plenty jobs, right? I can as well serve coffee in a café,” you said with a sad smile, letting your hands slip from his comfortable hold.

“That's not right. Especially if you worked hard to– not to mention it's a matter of principle. You run away once and… running is a very hard habit to break,” he whispered, as if a secret, trying to reason with you.

You bit your lip when the truth of his words washed over you, along with the way he spoke; with such a strong believe in principles that should stand a standard. It… he made you forgot your own trouble for a second as you let yourself get lost in him. In the way he treated you, the protector's persona, yet not forced. He had suggested you to ‘let him come with you’, not even a note of command in his approach. This was not a man seeing an opportunity to be a hero when spotting the damsel in distress; this was a man who believed in what was right and wanted to fix things that were apparently broken. You wished there were more men like him, selfishly wanting one of them to be your boss.

“And men like these – they need to be put in line,” he added darkly, snapping you from your daydreaming of a better world. “Let me come with you. I'll—I’ll help you fill in the forms, walk you to HR. You don't have to deal with this alone.”

For all the comfort the dark had offered you so far, you wished for a little bit more light now, enough to see his face, his eyes. You knew they would be burning with honesty, you were sure of it, maybe a little rage aimed at a man who dared to treat another human being the way he did.

The offer was so tempting. But just imagining the security escorting Steve from the building for wanting to help you was enough to put out the fiery need to accept. It was ridiculous to care so much about his well-being after what could be minutes of knowing him, but no one could call you out on it. And if they did, you could always play it cool with ‘matter of principles’; good people only deserved good things.

You carefully reached out, hoping to find his hand again. Your heart skipped a beat when you brushed his thigh instead, but at least his hand was right next to it. He released a surprised breath when you took it into yours, way smaller one. You bit your lip when leaning in a little, blindly trying to meet his gaze.

“You’re a good man, Steve. I’m sorry your friend is giving you a hard time, you don't deserve that – even though I'm sure he means well. If you ever want to get him off your back...” you wavered at the ridiculous idea, but hey, why the hell not, he had offered to help you out first, “you can say you're seeing someone. Give him my card. I'll confirm we're together – he seems like a kind of a guy who would check.”

Shocked breathless laugh erupted from his chest and you assumed you hit the nail on the head. You fished out one of your business cards, handing it to him and releasing his hand then.

It was time to leave and face your fate, but Steve didn't make any attempt at moving out of the closet.

In fact, he seemed to examine the card for a while and then he quietly read out your name. You gasped in surprise. How the hell could he see anything? You could barely make out his silhouette!

“How-”

“I'm used to working in dark spaces,” he muttered absently. “Would you really do that?”

Slightly taken aback he was considering your offer, you nodded, only to realize he couldn't see it--- actually, he probably could.

“I would. Hell, I think I could handle one uncomfortable dinner with your friend vetting me,” you added, slightly amused at the idea. When you could hear his shocked exhale and wanted to take it back. “I didn't mean to-”

“Let me come with you to your office,” he repeated like a broken record and you frowned at the sudden change of topic.

“What-”

“It could throw your boss off your back for long enough for you to deal with the complaint. If you would be comfortable enough to play my girlfriend for a dinner time, why not now?”

Your eyes went wide and you almost choked on air.

“I-what? I told you it would probably only make it worse-”

“It will work.”

“How can you be so-”

The door yanked open and your eyes were hit by an unpleasantly sharp light, making you squint.

“Holy-” a ridiculously familiar voice you couldn’t place breathed out. “Wilson! I found him! You’ve gotta see this!”

You wanted to see the owner of the voice, but your view was completely blocked by the broad chest of your companion.

So you at least raised your head to meet Steve face to face so to speak. You couldn’t see much, your eyes still adjusting; with the light shining from behind him, playing a mysterious game with his blond locks, framing his impressive figure, he looked like a freaking angel, beautiful and righteous, bringing justice, yet wrapped in an aura of peace and serenity. You barely kept your jaw from falling on the floor.

You kept staring, focusing on his face, and slowly started realizing that his features too, were familiar. Mortification was creeping up your back as the puzzle pieces started falling into place, creating a horrifying picture, making you wish for the Earth to swallow you.

The voice from behind Steve’s back resolved the last doubts you had about your temporary mysterious roommate.

“Wouldn’t peg you as a get-freaky-in-a-closet kind of guy, Capsicle.”

You wanted to immediately protest that you had definitely not been getting freaky in the closet, but your brain was still frozen because of the big revelation – that you had just been comforted, hell, that you had just offered to be a fake date to Captain America.

You simply stared at him, unbeing able to hold your jaw from falling anymore. Because– because-- oh god.

Now it made perfect sense that he thought Thomas Gregory would be intimidated… by the idea of harassing Captain America’s girlfriend. You couldn’t really blame Steve for being sure it would work. Also, it kinda explained why he called Mr. Stark or Ms. Potts their first names – they were on the first name basis.

Which really was the least relevant thing right now.

A bashful smile appeared on Steve’s lips, a little guilty perhaps, and you just… giggled at the absurdity. You couldn’t help it. You had just spent minutes in a supply closet with Steve Rogers without having a single clue about it and while you didn’t do anything heated as someone would assume, it was one of the most amazing minutes of your life.

You must have looked like an idiot or something, because he chuckled too, completely ignoring another male voice growing in volume as the newcomer approached.

“Holy hell, man! I can’t believe what I’m seeing!”

At those words, Steve tentatively took your hand with an encouraging smile and led you out to the hall. You were met with two pairs of curious eyes examining you from head to toe. You lowered your gaze, now fully aware of the fact they belonged to Tony Stark – the Iron Man – and Samuel Wilson – the Falcon.

Well. Now the ‘party story’ finally got the right juice.

“Then don’t, Sam, because it’s not what it looks like,” Steve replied to his match-maker friend and took a deep breath, squeezing your hand tighter. “Tony, this woman would like to report harassment on her workplace.”

Your head snapped to Steve’s face with panicked gaze. What the hell was he doing?!

Tony Stark made a noise of disapproval.

“Couldn’t you try harder so she wouldn’t complain about you?”

“Tony,” Steve addressed him, his voice solemn just like his expression, which clearly surprised the billionaire. “I’m serious. It’s not about me. Her boss is the reason why she was hiding here.”

Without commenting any further, Steve handed him your business card and Mr. Stark hummed. You weren’t brave enough to look up. Was he going to wave it off? Was he going to fire you?

He said your name, making you gulp in fright. You had to look up now and you really didn’t wanna, too afraid of what you’d see. You were shocked to meet with a searching gaze, but not a mean one.

“It is true? Is your boss giving you trouble? Making sexist comments? Worse?”

You felt tears in your eyes, utterly taken aback by his sensitive tone, the inviting light in his eyes. It was too much to bear and you wanted to escape the kind gaze; and he wouldn’t let you. You only managed to nod when you felt Steve’s thumb caressing the back of your hand.

Mr. Stark sighed, adding a dark ‘goddammit’, and returned Steve the business card.

“Alright, kids. Let’s have a trip.”

And you just stared.

…what?

Part 2

I know, I know, Steve is a little bit of Knight-In-Shining-Armour here, but it made sense to me O:-)

Happy weekend!

Thank you for reading!

#fanfiction #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x you #steve rogers imagine #captain america x reader #captain america x you #captain america imagine #steve rogers #captain america #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers fanfiction #captain america fanfic #captain america fanfiction #civilian reader #in the strangest place we just might find love #anika ann

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expectingtofly · 3 years

Text

Claire Novak's (Surprisingly) Not-So-Lame Day

this fic is written for @dean-has-great-taste as part of @starrynightdeancas' gift exchange. thanks sophie for organizing this, it was a lot of fun <33 and i hope you enjoy this, gen!!

*****

How did Claire find herself joining Dean, Cas, and Jack for an excursion to the mall?

Well.

Cas had texted her yesterday, with an extreme amount of emojis and emoticons that took some time to decipher, asking if she wanted to go shopping with him, Dean, and Jack. Apparently Jack needed new clothes and they needed a gift for Eileen’s birthday coming up, and maybe they could go bowling or something afterwards.

And normally she would’ve said no way because hanging out with old guys was lame and she didn’t like little kids, but she needed an excuse to get out of Jody and Donna’s weekend plans of cleaning out the garage. Plus, Kaia needed to study for a test—she actually enjoyed school, the weirdo—and had requested no distractions.

So that’s how she found herself sitting in the back of the Impala next to a carseat, listening to one of Dean’s old cassette tapes (which wasn’t too bad, but she’d never admit it).

“What’s that?” Jack asked, stretching against his carseat straps to jab at one of the pins Claire wore on her leather jacket.

“It’s the lesbian flag,” she told him. Cas looked back at them from the front seat, smiling.

“This one?” Jack pointed to the rainbow pin on her pocket.

“It’s the pride flag.”

Jack considered that for a moment before announcing, “I want one. And this one.” He pointed to the mothman pin on her lapel, then the big-eyed, green alien. “And this one... and this one, and this one.” (Alex said she had more pins than leather on her jacket, but sue her, she liked making her clothing her own).

Jack, it seemed, also liked… unique clothing. The kid was wearing rain boots even though the sun was out and overalls with embroidered flowers. He dressed weird, there was no way around it. But so did Cas, so there was probably no hope for him, poor kid.

“Okay,” she decided. “I know where to get you some.”

Jack beamed and swung his legs. “Don’t kick the seat,” Dean told him, and Jack pouted at him.

Claire was surprised Dean even let a carseat in his precious Impala. Pulling out her phone, she asked, “Can we listen to my music?”

Dean started to respond with a “Hell no,” but Cas spoke up first, “Of course.”

Dean spluttered as Claire connected to the bluetooth connector Sam had finally convinced Dean to install. The old man didn’t realize it was the 21st century, apparently.

“I wanna listen to Gaga!” Jack said, leaning over to look at her phone.

At first she thought that was some baby talk, then she realized Jack was into pop music. Ugh. But it would annoy Dean, so...

Leaning in conspiratorially with Jack, she let him scroll through her phone and choose which song to play. When “Born This Way” started filtering through the car, Dean groaned.

“Really?” he asked, sending her a glare in the rearview mirror. Mission accomplished.

Jack clapped along and Cas turned the music up louder. “Great choice, Jack,” he said.

Dean, for all his grumbling, didn’t turn down the music, and Claire caught him glancing at Cas, who tapped his fingers on his thigh to the beat. Dean looked like he was fighting back a smile and Claire rolled her eyes. Dude was so whipped.

When they parked at the mall, Cas grabbed Jack’s hand before he could sprint across the parking lot. “You have to look both ways,” he reminded him gently, and Jack nodded.

“Claire’s gonna buy me pins,” he said, jumping onto the curb.

“Yup.” Claire pat her jacket pocket. “Good ol’ credit card fraud.”

“Woah, now,” Dean started to protest.

“You and Sam are the ones who taught me!” Claire reminded him.

“We’ll pay for them,” Cas said, opening the door to the mall. Jack skipped inside, his rain boots squeaking on the tiled floor.

“We’re doing what now?” Dean asked Cas, taking his hand. Gross.

“Come on, Jack,” Claire said, catching up to the toddler. “Let’s go get you some style.” Over her shoulder, she called, “Meet up with you guys later.”

“Have fun!” Cas called.

“Don’t get kidnapped,” Dean added.

As they distanced themselves from the old geezers, Jack grabbed her hand, and Claire startled a little. “Do you like dinosaurs?” he asked.

Someone passing by gave them a smile, and Claire realized people probably thought Jack was her younger brother. She let him hold her hand anyway. “Sure.”

“What’s your favorite? Mine is the bon-ta-sore-us.” He sounded out the word carefully.

“Don’t know. What’s the one with the spiky horns?”

“Ti-ce-a-tops?”

“Yeah, that sounds cool.”

“That’s my second favorite!” He started jumping from one colored tile to the next. “And the T-Rex. That’s Dee’s favorite. And Dad likes the steg-a-sore-us.” He peered up at her. “Did you know he got to see dinosaurs? Right in front of him!”

“You know what that means, right?” He shook his head. “He’s super old. He’s basically a dinosaur himself.”

Jack’s eyes widened. “He’s a dinosaur,” he repeated in a hushed whisper.

“Yup.” Spotting Hot Topical, she headed that way. “You should tell him that.”

Inside the store, Jack let go of her hand to grab a stuffed cat. “Claire! Like yours!”

Claire rolled her eyes. “Yeah.” So, she still had the Grumpy Cat Cas had bought her. She wasn’t cruel enough to throw it away when the guy was trying so hard to make up for walking around in her dead dad’s body. Plus, the stuffed animal was kinda cute. Not that she was going to tell anyone that.

“Here ya go,” she told Jack, finding a box of pins at the register. She brought the box down to his level and Jack ran over to look inside.

“I want a Doc McStuffins pin,” he said, plunging his hand into the box.

“I don’t know if they have those.”

As they rooted through the box of pins, she heard familiar voices and looked up to see Dean and Cas walking inside.

“What are you guys doing here?” she asked.

“I like this store,” Cas said and Dean rolled his eyes. Among the pleather and black, Cas’ dingy old trench coat—over a Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt instead of a suit—and Dean’s ratty flannel and boots only looked more ridiculous. She took it back—even Jack dressed better than them.

“You guys don’t have to be in here,” she told them.

“What, we’re too old?” Dean asked defensively.

“Yeah, actually.”

Cas poked at a toy and it squeaked. God, could they be any more embarrassing?

“Dad!” Jack called, holding out a rainbow pin. “Look, they have soo many.” Cas joined Jack in going through the pins and Claire asked Dean, giving his outfit a meaningful look,

“Was the Army Surplus store too trendy for you?”

“Did they kick you out of Sephora for buying up all the eyeliner?“ Dean shot back.

Touché. In a truce, she held out a pin with the bisexual flag. She wasn’t really sure what Dean identified as, if he even gave it any thought, but guessed it was close enough. “For you.”

Dean rolled his eyes but took it. “I’m not weighing down my jacket with this crap, though.”

“No, ‘course not, that would mean having any sort of style.”

“Can I help you with anything?” asked an employee with two nose rings and jewelry up and down their ears— so cool. Claire saw the way their eyes flicked between them, probably thinking they made a weird group, and she took a step back, trying to silently communicate that yes, she was shopping with them, but no, she was not as lame as them.

“Just looking,” Dean told them.

“I like your drawings,” Jack said and the employee looked down at their arms which were littered with tattoos.

“Thanks.”

“My dad has a drawing. It’s Enochian.”

The employee—Wren, by the name tag—looked at Cas with new respect in their eyes. “Language of the angels. Sick.”

Cas looked pleased. “Thank you. It’s come in handy more than once.”

The employee went back to looking confused and, starting to walk away, told them to call if they needed anything.

“Do you want anything?” Cas asked Claire, and Claire looked through the box. She grabbed a pentagram pin and, seeming to copy her, Jack grabbed another one, clutching several pins already in his fists.

“You like bees, right?” Claire asked Cas, spotting a “Save the Bees” pin. She held it up for him.

Cas’ eyes brightened. “That’s a wonderful message.” He glanced back at Dean and frowned. “Dean, they’re not going to bite.”

Claire looked over to see Dean shying away from a few emo teens. “Look like it,” Dean muttered, joining them. Jack lifted up his hands, asking to be hoisted up. Dean set him on his hip and Jack showed him the pins he’d selected. He held a dinosaur pin to Dean’s collar.

“Do you want one, Dee?”

“He’s too lame,” Claire piped up. Not for the first time, she noticed the healed over piercing mark on Dean’s right ear and pointed to it. “Looks like he used to be cool, though.”

“Yeah, guess so,” Dean said dryly. His hand went to his earlobe. “Pierced it myself, in high school.”

“I think you’re still cool,” Cas told him, and Claire fake-gagged, making Jack giggle.

Cas took the pins to the cash register where Wren rang them up. Dean added the bisexual flag pin and Claire threw in a pair of spiky earrings, because, hey, they were paying.

“15.36,” Wren told them, dropping the pins into a bag.

“My dad’s a dinosaur,” Jack told them, trying to see over the edge of the counter. Wren raised an eyebrow, Cas looked surprised, and Claire stifled a laugh.

“Claire, help me,” Jack said, grabbing the bag from Cas as they exited the store. Moving to the side, Claire helped him attach the pins to his overalls. A smiley face, a pride flag, a grinning Stitch, a sunflower, a dinosaur, and the pentagram. The pins clacked as Jack tugged at his overalls, trying to look at them all. Overall, a chaotic look, but it kinda matched his vibe.

“Lookin’ good,” she told him, and Jack beamed.

“I’m like you!”

Alright, she wouldn’t take it that far, but, “Yeah, close enough.”

Cas attached the “Save the Bees” pins to his trench coat pocket and it ended up crooked. Rolling her eyes, Claire said, “Let me.”

She reattached the pin and stepping back to look it over, decided, “You could actually make that coat look cool if you added more stuff to it.”

Cas looked down at himself. “Thank you.”

“Nothing’s gonna save that sweatshirt, though.” Couldn’t let his ego get too big.

“Dean said he liked it,” Cas said, glancing back at Dean, who was shooting an evil eye at Claire. He quickly wiped it off his face and draped an arm over Cas’ shoulders.

“Yeah, it’s uh… Charming.” He guided Cas away from Claire. “Don’t listen to her, she still thinks sarcasm is a personality trait.”

“Screw you, old man,” she called. Jack skipped after them and she checked her phone to see Kaia had texted her: How’s everything going? They drive you crazy yet?

They’re so weird, she texted back. Then she added, They’re not too bad.

“Come on, Jack,” she said, hurrying to catch up with him, Dean, and Cas. “Let’s go get our ears pierced.”

“Yay!” Jack cheered. He grabbed her hand and tugged her down the mall.

“Woah, woah, you’re not doing that,” Dean protested like the wet blanket he was.

“You can get yours pierced too,” Claire told him, and he faltered,

“I don’t want, we’re not—“

“You know you want to.” She let Jack lead her away and Dean called after them,

“We're never bringing you shopping again!”

Grinning, she turned to shout over her shoulder, “You know you love me!”

#starrynightdeancas gift exchange #established dean/cas #claire novak #toddler jack #dadstiel #fic #spn #expectingtoflywrites #im gonna post this on ao3 as soon as i figure out a summary lol

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slipper007 · 3 years

Note

p ☀️art museums: what’s your favourite museum, or type of museum? 💕💕

☀️art museums: what’s your favourite museum, or type of museum? (doing this)

Word Count: 1,864

Also on AO3 [masterpost]

Two years after the world didn’t end, Team Free Will 3.0 started traveling.

They didn’t always stick together, or even stay in the United States (Sam and Eileen made the trip to Ireland), but they knew they all still had a home in the Bunker.

It was simultaneously freeing and terrifying to be in control of their own fates, something that Sam, Cas, and Jack had all taken in stride. While Eileen struggled at times, Dean was the only one held back by it, as much as he tried not to be. The moment he had first realized that his life was not his own, he’d fought against it out of instinct and righteousness, but now that he had it…

As much as Castiel and his brother both assured him that he was who he was on his own terms, rather than whatever Chuck’s machinations had wanted to him to be, he worried he didn’t know himself. He was just as adrift as he had been in his teens and twenties, desperately trying to emulate his father in order to find a sense of self; as he had been freshly back from hell, violent and afraid of everything he had done and become; as he had been standing in that graveyard with God telling him to kill when he knew revenge wasn’t what his mother would have wanted and wasn’t what he truly wanted.

Castiel had told him in his confession, his brother in several passing speeches over a lifetime, and Dean himself had said it straight to God’s face, but was it true? Who or what was he outside of saving people and hunting things, outside of the narrative Chuck had constructed his entire lifetime?

The vastness of the question was enough to make anyone spiral, so he tried to avoid it.

Charlie helped when she came over. With Sam and Eileen abroad, and Cas all too willing to have deep conversations Dean wasn’t ready for as much as he loved him, she and Dean became closer. She had been staying at the Bunker for a time, not long after Jack and Billie brought her back. She, too, was finding it difficult to adjust to the new world they found themselves in – she had tried for a full year and a half to get her legs under her on her own, but the world had changed in the six years before she had been brought back. Even though she had managed to reinvent herself numerous times before, it was difficult. The Winchesters were more than willing to offer her a place to stay in the meantime.

It worked well for everyone, though it was particularly chaotic now that Sam and Eileen were taking a brief vacation abroad. Dean was constantly with his two best friends (one of whom was his lover), as well as Jack. Charlie and Cas had become close, something that Charlie had deemed “WLW/MLM solidarity” (neither Dean nor Cas knew what that meant). To Jack, Charlie had taken the role of cool aunt, which was both wonderful and terrifying in equal regard, especially given that Jack was, at this point, back to being in a body his own age with his original powers rather than those of a god. The combination of a super-powered six-year-old and a nerdy LARP-enthusiast was certainly an interesting one, especially given how their energies fed and built on each other’s.

It was this merry band that found themselves inside an art museum one hot August afternoon.

Charlie and Dean wandered the lower gallery for a short while as Castiel took Jack through a more kid-focused section, and for a time they wandered in silence.

“So how are you today?”

“You live with me,” Dean responded, only to be faced with a shrug. “How are you?”

“Today’s been good,” Charlie said with transparency. “I woke up again. Started sewing more of my Triss costume – from The Witcher video games, not the show, you know? Now I get to hang out with friends and see some pretty cool art. Maybe I’ll apply for another job today, or bake some bread, or we can finish getting me all caught up on Game of Thrones.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Dude, spoilers!” She looked straight to him, and Dean shook his head. “Anyway, you’re dodging the question by asking about my awesome life. Not cool, so spill.”

Dean sighed as he walked by another painting of fruit. “I don’t know, Charlie. Could be better, could be worse.”

“Figured out who Dean Winchester is yet?”

“Do any of us truly know who we are?” Dean quipped back.

“Really?”

“Lil’ existentialism never killed anyone,” Dean said with a shrug. “But no, not yet. It’s all still just a big…mess…of what’s him and what’s me.”

“Well, here’s a start for you: Dean Winchester is my friend, and always will be, regardless of whatever some crack writer says.”

“Pretty sappy, but I’ll take it.”

“Shut up.”

Dean Winchester is a friend.

When Cas and Jack rejoined the pair a little later, they all wandered up to the 12th to 19th century European gallery. Jack and Charlie broke away when they came across the tapestries. Castiel, however, was drawn to a painting a little further in. The gallery was still and quiet as Dean joined him.

“St. Sebastian, huh?” Dean said, reading the label. “Know him?”

“My memory of 200 BCE is muddled at best,” Castiel said. “I don’t think so. The painting is beautiful, though, if tragic.”

Dean looked at it again, trying to see what Castiel saw. A beautiful mouth was twisted in pain as arrows lodged in the body, unstoppable. The arms were contorted and restrained, rendering punishment inescapable. The eyes were wide and dark, looking upwards as if begging for divine intervention that would never come.

In it, he saw himself. He saw his struggles with faith in a higher power, with the needless suffering he and his little family had been put through. He saw his loss, his fear, the control he lost when he realized he would never be free from Chuck. What he didn’t see was the anger.

Beyond that, however, he saw Castiel. He saw Cas’ expression when the Mark had worn Dean down, when he had thrown Cas to the floor along side the corpses of the Stynes. It was the same loss, the same fear. The expression was akin to brokenness yet not shattered. He was still faithful, still true. It was the same look on his face when he had confessed in the dungeon. Beautiful but tragic.

What had Dean ever done to deserve that resoluteness, that level of trust in spite of the fear.

“I’m sorry,” he started, words catching in his throat. How did he even begin to make up for all he had done? Yet, it was as if Cas had read his mind. Hell, he was an angel. Maybe he just knew.

Castiel turned to him, a familiar softness in eyes not tainted by pain or prayer for intervention. Dean could lose himself in the deep blue seas.

“You’re forgiven. You’ve been forgiven.”

They stood side by side, listening to Jack’s squeals of joy only a room over, for several minutes before Castiel spoke again.

“You’re unsure of who you are,” Castiel said. It was a fact they both knew, even as Dean started to protest the topic. “I’ve already told you what I think, but let me remind you. You’re the single most loving person I have ever known. You love in spite of Chuck. You care about this broken world, even when it seems hopeless. You always have.” He paused for a long moment before saying, “In plainest terms, you’re a lover, not a fighter.”

“I don’t know about that one. Can’t I be both?”

Castiel let out a long-suffering sigh at that before wandering away to look at the other paintings.

Dean stayed by the painting of St. Sebastian for another few minutes, trying to see what Castiel saw in it before hearing Jack call for him a little way away, his high, childish voice carrying through the halls.

Dean Winchester is a lover.

Downstairs, there was a special exhibition on the history of dance. Jack practically dragged Dean in, his eyes wide and excitement palpable. Charlie and Castiel laughed and promised to catch up in a few minutes – Charlie wanted to grab a print of an art piece from the museum store. Dean and Jack wandered from exhibit to exhibit, looking at everything from classic vinyl to tap shoes. Despite the artifacts and objects, news clippings and sound bites, Jack was fascinated by a video of people swing dancing projected on the wall.

“What’s up, kid?”

“I wish I could do that.”

“You can,” Dean said. “You just have to do what they’re doing.”

Jack looked up to him, eyes wide and a broad grin starting to cross his face.

“Will you show me?”

It took a little bit of practice, and they missed more of the moves than they got, even with Jack standing on Dean’s shoes, but they both enjoyed what they were doing, which made it worth it. Jack’s smile as he danced up to Charlie and Castiel a few minutes later made it all the more precious.

“Come dance with us!” he called out before rushing back over to where Dean still stood.

“Having fun?” Cas asked as

“Cas!” Jack called. “Come on, come on, come on!”

Castiel smiled and shook his head before turning to Charlie and taking her hands. They instantly fell into sync with the video, matching the moves in perfect synchronicity. Dean felt himself stop in shock as Castiel flipped Charlie over his shoulder as if it was no great feat.

“Woah, when did you learn to dance like that?”

“I do have some memories of watching humanity. I was even on Earth when this dance was invented.”

“And I took dance lessons a few years ago,” Charlie offered by way of explanation.

“I guess we’ll just have to up our game, huh Jack?”

Jack giggled, his gap-toothed smile looking all the more excited. They busted out a few new moves, even improvising for a while.

“Dude, you dance like a dad!” Charlie laughed, twirling Castiel as she did so.

Dancing there in the museum, Jack on his feet as Castiel and Charlie watched on, Dean came to a final realization of the day.

Dean Winchester is a father.

As the day drew to a close, the group started to head out. Jack clung to Dean’s back, wiped out after a long day of dancing and wandering the museum. He watched the birds fly overhead in the golden light as they wandered to the car. Cas took the backseat with Jack, who promptly fell asleep.

“This was fun,” Charlie said, setting the bag with her art print on the seat between her and Dean. “It’d been a while since I’d gone out like this.”

It had been fun. It was nice to enjoy the world rather than save it.

Even if he was still working on figuring out who he was, Dean finally felt content.

#fluff #domestic fluff #supernatural #spn fic #dean winchester #castiel #charlie bradbury #jack kline #kid!jack #spncreatorsdaily #creativecavier #userdee #userstarry #userpris #rambleoncas #tuserari #usershey #slipper007writes

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steviebunny · 3 years

Text

Till' The End of Time

Chapter 4

Randy's donuts

Inglewood CA: 2011

Nicholas Fury and Anthony Stark sit across from each other within the donut shop, the latter head in hand, with sunglasses resting upon his face obviously hungover.

"I told you I don't wanna join your super-secret boy band."

Fury chuckles a bit before replying "No, no, no. See, I remember, you do everything yourself. How's that working out for you?"

Rhodey drags a stumbling Stark into the shared bathroom, dropping him on the (for now) closed toilet seat, Lenora and Natal- Natasha. Following close behind.

He cracks open a bottle of ginger ale and puts it in Tony's reach.

"We need a plan."

"Huh?" The intoxicated one of the group questions, slowly sobering up.

"We need a plan. The four of us. This can't keep happening. So we need a plan, to keep you alive. Safe. And y'know not a fugitive."

Tony's hands come up to rub at his eyes, struggling to adjust to the harsh bathroom light, Lenora sees his discomfort and dims the light, and returns to the corner of the bathroom. Her back pressed to the wall.

"Oh okay."

Rhodey sighs, knees buckling as he sits on the edge of the tub face to face with his mate.

"You aren't in a mental state to contribute right now, so as your husband I'm taking the reigns here. In the morning I'm taking the War Machine armor to the airfield tomorrow, the Senate will get off our backs for a little so that's one last thing to worry about. Tomorrow you will wake up at a reasonable time after you've slept... This off. You and Lenora will go to Shield Headquarters and you will hear out director Fury. As great as Jarvis is there are blocks not even his search engine can surpass. If anyone knows what can save you it will be him or someone he had connections with."

"He won’t need to."

"What."

"He won't need to, Fury will find him. Wherever even if it's somewhere he’ll hate Fury will fine Tony and meet him there."

"Natalie what are you-"

"Her name isn't Natalie, it's Natasha. And she's not from legal. She's from shield." Lenora's voice cuts through, getting straight to the point leaving the men in the room stunned at the revelation.

" You should go to Randy's- Fury's all uptight. He'll hate it there." She suggested.

"Not wrong about that." The spy concurs.

James releases a breath and Tony looks at him like a lost puppy "looks like we have a plan.'" he says, lightly lifting his arms. Not having enough energy to even question the spy's intentions.

"It's...it's...it's.." Tony can't finish his sentence, bringing his coffee up to his lips. Subconsciously kicking himself. "I'm sorry I don't wanna get off on the wrong foot, do I look at the patch or the eye? Honestly, I'm very hungover and I don't know... if-id you're real-"

"I am very real, and trust me the state of you did not go by unnoticed- Romanoff made sure you'd be comfortable. why do you think there was already a coffee waiting for you when you got here? I sure as hell didn't order it for you."

"Sorry, Romanoff?"

"Your soulmate."

"Oh of course sorry, Natalie. Still getting used to the whole 'my identity was fake the entire time' thing I suppose."

"I'm the realest person you're ever gonna meet." Fury continues.

"Just my luck, where's the staff here?" Stark question turning his head to look to the rest of the empty establishment, accidentally exposing his palladium-infused veins over the crest of the neck of his armor.

Fury reaches over poking at the skin, noting its discoloration and grid-like pattern, "That's not looking so good."

"I've been worse," Tony admits honestly, taking another sip of his drink as footsteps of a one so very special Agent Romanoff, can be heard coming closer.

"We've secured the perimeter but I don't think we should hold it for too much longer." She addresses only her superior. Leaving but only a glance to the seat in which her mate is currently.

He looks to her over the rim of his sunglasses, "you're fired."

She smirks "that's not up to you."

As agent fury motions for her to sit, he speaks again. "Tony I want you to meet agent Romanoff. Once we were alerted of your illness she was tasked to shadow and profile you. You’re current... Romantic standing wasn't taken into account. I hope you can understand."

"Oh yeah. Of course. 100%, So what do you want from me?"

Nat gets up again walking to grab something from another side of the room, "What do I want from you?" Fury snorts. "It's not what I want from you, it's what you want from me. You aren't the center of my universe Stark, I have bigger problems to deal with-"

"Oh like torturing my wife."

"There are protocols Stark, it's not because of personal preference, I have to follow guidelines. Right now though. You are the problem, a problem I have to deal with. I have bigger problems in the southwest region I should be dealing with.- Hit em."

Tony's retort is interrupted by a sharp stabbing sensation in the side of his neck. He looks over at the offending figure, Natasha holding a thick metal syringe- "oh god you're gonna steal my kidney and sell it?

Stark groans at the influx of whatever was just pumped into him, his mate slaps his face lightly- something he normally wouldn't be too opposed to excluding present circumstances, Natasha grabs him by the chin tilting his head, giving herself and Director Fury a better look at the fading in Tony's veins. Her eyes meet his as he lightly pleads, "Could you please not do anything awful for five seconds?"

"What did she just do to me?"

"What did we just do for you?."

Lenora and the bots are in the living room currently trying to clean up a majority of the mess, each of them with different sizes brooms and dustpans trying to limit the amount of glass in the given space

The sound of synchronous footsteps and the familiar clunking of the ironman suit breaks her out of her thoughts looking up she sees one of her husband's in stride with the man who helped collar her like an animal. She wants to be upset, outraged even, but Tony raises a finger to his lips signaling her to be quiet. She trusts him, so for now she'll let him escort the man and his bodyguards through their home like a guest... The pair sit upon two chairs already swept away from the damage, overlooking the mountain range.

Lenora can hear her husband asking Jarvis to remove and store the armor leaving him in his morning clothes and robe as she shoos her boys away, for now, they're innocent the last thing they need right now is to see mommy and daddy fight if things go south.

"-Just him? Or was Anton Vanko in this, too?"

"Anton Vanko is the other side of that coin. Anton saw it as a way to get rich. When your father found out he had him deported.."

Tony and Lenora can both be heard scoffing at that, then each of them knowing Howard’s true intentions weren't so far off from the other man's, he was just smarter and greedier.

"...When the people he was working for found out he couldn’t deliver, they shipped his ass off to Siberia. He spent the next 20 years in an alcohol-fueled rage. Not quite the environment you want to raise a kid in."

Now that Tony and Lenora both knew a bit too well, some things just hit a bit too close to home, but I guess you could say Tony and Lottie are opposite sides of a coin on that. Both were emotionally, mentally abused, and neglected by alcohol-dependent parental figures, Tony grew to resent, and even hate his father, Lenora just feels pity for what memories of her parents and their life she remembers.

"You told me I haven’t tried everything? What haven't I tried?"

"That's for you to solve... I can't give you all the answers. I've got to get going I have a 2, o'clock.' 'A case is brought in and placed in front of Tony rousing a handful of questions from the man' "I'm sure you remember Agent Coulson, Natasha will remain a floater for Stark industries and seeing as you're... Well, the situation you all keep to regarding your personal lives is none of my business."

He walks further, practically right up to where Lottie stands amongst the rubble, looking the man in the eye as he says "And Tony. Remember, I've got my eye on you." A thinly veiled threat targeted not only to him but to agent Romanoff as well, Shield was clearly an organization not shy to use soulmates well being to keep others in the line.

Tony stands in his workstation, viewing the projection of the 1974 Stark Expo curiously, the transparent blue of the projection radiating in the darkroom. He's broken out of his thoughts by the clink of ceramic on the lab table.

"Again with the bucket?"

"It's not a bucket, it's a mug."

He looks over at his wife, bringing his own (thankfully normal-sized) mug to his lips. "Baby girl, this- 'he raises his' "is a mug. That is a bucket. No mug should be the size of a watermelon."

"It's not the size of a watermelon." Lottie whines, "Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"Yeah. Yeah. Jarvis, how many buildings are there?" He motions to raise the projection of its physical structure.

"Am I to include the Belgian Waffle stands?" The British voice asks mockingly.

"That was rhetorical. Just show me."

With a snap of the man's fingers, the projection spins and turns vertically, the individual buildings becoming more highlighted and prominent. The overhead view, focussing on the center of the property.

"What does that look like to you, Jarvis? Not... Unlike an atom, in which case the nucleus would be here. Highlight the Unisphere."

He brings his hands in and out, yellow strings following along with each of his fingertips, "Lose the footpaths, get rid of them." He swipes his hand across the screen sharply throwing the unnecessary features away.

"What are you looking for Tones?"

"I think... I'm rediscovering an element....lose the landscape, the shrubbery, and the trees. Parking lots, exits- entrances." He flicks, pushes, and shoves all the excessive pieces away. "Structure the protons, and neutrons, using the pavilions as a framework."

Tony suddenly smacks his hands to his face groaning out a subtle 'dad', his fist stops at his mouth where he lightly bites on his knuckles. Dum-e, U, and Butterfingers crowding around their mother watching in awe. Tony repeated his hand movements from before, expanding the atom-like element.

It exploded into hundreds of miniature atoms, brushing across the room, in beautiful blue shades.

"Dead for almost 20 years and somehow he still manages to take me to school..."

"The proposed element should serve as a viable replacement for palladium."

"Thanks, Howard" Lottie speaks quietly, earning a smirk from her husband.

"Unfortunately it is impossible to synthesize."

"Is it?"

"Oh no."

"Oh yes."

"Darling, why is it every time you make some sort of breakthrough we have to destroy the home."

Tony laughs out at that, "Helps me think. Get ready for a major remodel, fellas! We're back in hardware mode." He yells out for Jarvis and his sons, signaling the four to begin preparations.

After practically destroying the lab Tony Stark had managed to discover or rather re-discover an element. Something supposedly lost to time, Vibranium.

"Tony I'm so sorry, I never thought of it before, all of my books. Everything I learned in university- it called Vibranium a myth, a story lost to time- that's why I've never mentioned it... I- i- thought it wasn't real." Lenora explains pleadingly, slightly ashamed of herself for not having been able to help sooner.

"Baby girl it's okay, you couldn't have known...but look, it's made. We have it now... There are a few more kinks to work out in the design, In figuring out how it can properly be implemented. But I replicated it. It's done. I- where's it from anyway."

"Wakanda"

"Wakanda... how did? How would Dad have gotten a handle on an element from Africa?"

"Well... There are a few possibilities, but if the limited writing about Wakanda from my Textbooks is true, I doubt he got his hands on it respectfully..."

"Remind me to reach out to the Wakandan embassy then, there's something suspicious about all of this. I doubt Fury would give us the full story."

"DUM-E, U. Can we clean up this mess" the former turns, tilting his 'head' to his father, confused. "You're killing me... I know, I don't ... "

Tony's exasperation is cut off by the ringing of his phone.

"Incoming call with a blocked number, sir."

"My phone privilege is reinstated, lovely. Coulson, how's the land of enchantment?"

The thick rasp of an obviously not Phil Coulson comes through the other side "Hey, Tony how you doing? Haha. I double cycle."

"You what?"

"You told me double cycle's more power. Good advice."

"You sound pretty sprightly for a dead guy."

"You, too."

Tony sighs deeply, pushing the mute button on his end, then directing Jarvis to begin a trace on the call.

"Now the true history of Stark Name will be written."

" Jarvis where is he?"

The A.I promptly responds, "Accessing the Oracle grid. Eastern Seaboard."

"What your father did to my family, over 40 years, I will do to you in 40 minutes."

"Sounds good. Let's get together and hash it out."

"Tri-State area. Manhattan and outlying boroughs." JARVIS's voice chimes in yet again.

"I hope you're ready," Vanko says finally, the dial tone of a hung-up call then rings out across the lab.

"Call trace incomplete."

Tony releases a breath he'd been holding in, glancing over at a set of screens prominently showcasing infographics of the Stark Expo, Justin Hammers face plastered on the very front page.

Tony shoots up, grabbing his newly modified reactor core and shoving it into his chest cavity much to JARVIS's dismay

"You wanna run some tests, run 'em. And assemble the suit while you're at it. Put it together now. Lottie went to get in contact with the royal family of Wakanda, she's on hold with the embassy don't bother her." He demands, having to have increased his breathing rate at the sudden rush of energy now flowing through him.

"We are unclear as to the effect of..."

"I don't want to hear it, Jarvis".

Anthony coughs and gags a bit, the new Vibranium core taking some getting used to.

"Bleghh. That tastes like ...coconut. and metal... Oh, wow yeah!" He screams as the blue of the reactor continues to get brighter and brighter.

Justin Hammer stays dancing and hollering upon a stage, making a fool of himself as he introduces his line of defensive drones for the use of the American military. Colonel James Rhodes stands still, silent, in the War Machine armor unfortunately roped into being a part of the presentation

"For America and its allies, Hammer Industries is reporting for... "

The spiel is interrupted by the loud roaring engines heard above the Expo, A red and gold streak in the sky slows as it approaches the stage. Iron Man- in all his glory has arrived.

"We got trouble." He says, striding towards his husband.

"Tony there are civilians present."

Stark ignores the statement acting as if nothing's wrong. Hammer runs across the stage, screaming and shouting in faux excitement to get a rise out of the crowd.

"Give me a wave, pretend like everything's fine. All these people are in danger. We gotta get them out of here. You gotta trust me."

"I always trust you."

"Listen, I think he's working with Vanko."

"Vanko's alive?"

Tony turns striding to the shortest man on stage, "Where is he?"

"Who?"

"Tell me."

"What are you doing here man?"

The pair are stopped both hearing James's voice flowing in their direction.

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa.".

The arm cannon of the sliver suit is engaged against the will of its internal residence, locking on the engineer.

"Is that you?"

Prompting his husband to swear under his breath now obviously out of control in his current situation.

"No, I'm not doing that. That's not me...I can't move. I'm locked up I'm locked up! GET OUT OF HERE. GO! This whole system is compromised." Rhodes' eyes drift across his internal screens,- the code somehow switching from its peaceful green to a malicious red, lines and lines of the script running up with each attempt to break free from Vanko's control.

Tony takes the man's advice and initiates his blasters, jetting off to the sky "Let's take this outside." He says Terrified screams of running bystanders are heard radiating through the expo hall. After a final burst of energy, Iron Man shoots up through the dome’s opening, the rest of the armors machines pointing up to shoot at him as he goes. Effectively shattering the glass ceiling.

Against his will, Rhodey's engines engage propelling him upward and charging after his husband. "No! No!"

"Jarvis break-in. I need to own him. More than I already do."

"Yes, sir."

"Tony, Tony I'm locked on! I have target lock, I can't turn it off."

"On what?"

"On you!" He manages to yell out just before the arm engages, shooting hundreds of bullets at the titanium armor.

"Tony, on your six!"

The pair fly around the surrounding properties, the war machine armor occasionally firing at glass and metal. The two suits race each other for survival.

Meanwhile, within the Expo Hall, Vanko's modified droids begin wandering on their own, following their master’s directives. Running in synchronicity.

Justin Hammer runs backstage to the staff of the exposition in a state of panic, "What's going on what's happening?"

"The software's being overridden."

"What? What do you mean it's been overridden? What does that mean?"

"I think he slaved the drones."

"That's impossible, call the guards."

"All the phones are down, sir."

"Then call their cells."

"Cell phones aren't working either sir. He's locked us out of the mainframe. "

Pepper Potts and Natasha Romanoff run up to the desks shrouded in monitors, "Who's locked you out of the mainframe?" The blonde woman asks.

"Please, please go away, I've got this handled." Hammer practically begs of the women.

"Have you now?"

"Yes, I do. In fact, if your guy hadn't shown up, this wouldn't be happening. So please now, go away. Thank you." He crouches down to the analyst’s level whispering "listen we gotta get these bitches out of here."

Completely unaware of the fact the shield agent was approaching him from behind- snapping his arm behind his back and rotating it pushing him forward and pinned to the table as soon as she made contact.

"You tell me who's behind this! Who's behind this?" She growls out in his face, not only influenced by her training but now by the sudden influx of adrenaline that comes with knowing two of her mates are in danger.

She pushes harder into his shoulder forcing a cry of pain from the man

"Ivan. Ivan Vanko."

"Where is he?"

" He's at my facility."

Natasha steps out of the silver Audi, having had changed into a less movement restricting tank top, and athletic SHIELD issued pants, topped with a storage-friendly utility belt, and gun holster. Hair secured back into a quick military-style bun.

Ready to invade the facility she's stopped by Happy just before reaching the door.

"Stay in the car."

"I'm not staying in the car." The bodyguard responds indignantly.

"Stay in the car."

"Look I'm not letting you go in there alone." He tells her, watching her pull a device out of her utility belt and put it to the door’s padlock- taking only seconds for it to crack the passcode.

"You want to help, keep the car running."

"Okay." He responds but instead of heading in the opposite direction, he grabs onto the door handle before she can and thrusts himself inside before she can tell him otherwise.

The pair are approached by a bodyguard intending on keeping that at bay, but Hogan punches him before he has the chance.

Nat runs through a pair of glass doors where she is face to face with another guard, she ducks under the man's arm as he directs a swing to her face- she drops down on a knee, keeping herself balanced, and throws to small tazers at the man- incapacitating him.

She turns making her way further down the corridor. As a third guard rounds the corner, she pushed the leftover cleaning cart in his direction, effectively stopping him- hitting him right in the gut, the stunned man barely makes a grasp of the situation before Natasha hooks her leg around his, bringing him to his knees and directing a swift punch to the base of his skull putting him down for the count.

She dashes past the next guard, sliding through his spread legs. Hand grasping his ankle throwing him off balance, falling on his ass, the next in line tries to run after her and she uses the fallen over man as a body shield pushing the both of them together and stumbling to the floor as their heads collided hitting the tile.

The redhead sneaks down the hallway, hugging the walls as the final guard makes his way trying to find her, she comes up behind him. Pepper spraying him in the eyes as he turns around, she takes his momentary blindness to her advantage and pushes through the next set of doors.

Happy having finally caught up to her is a few paces behind, yet still able to see as she kicks the door open, a set of pistols in hand ready to shoot if necessary.

The door swings open and she cocks the weapons but upon further inspection, it becomes obvious the lair had been long since abandoned.

"He's gone."

"What are you doing?" The tan man questions seeing Natasha approach the computer in the room, she may not know much about coding but SHIELD knows enough about the way the War Machine suit for her to help fix Vanko's mess.

"Rebooting Rhodey's suit."

Masterlist

Chapter 5

@niffala @americasass81 @nsfwsebbie

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sarah-dipitous · 8 months

Text

Hellsite Nostalgia Tour 2023 Day 234

The Bad Seed

It’s so unfair I didn’t manage my time better that I have to pause mha to watch this right now. DABI’S DANCE IS NEXT AND I JUST….

“The Bad Seed”

Plot Description: Rowena tries to recruit witches, while Castiel struggles to control the attack-dog spell coursing through his veins. Amara feeds—and grows.

Would I Survive the First Five Minutes??: RIP to those witches but I would have joined Rowena’s coven

Oh sweetieeeee, Mega Coven doesn’t have the same grandeur as Grand Coven. I’m so sorry, babe. Let’s revise it. I believe in you.

I LOVE her rage

How many times are we going to go back to the scene of Dean and the Darkness just after they freed her??

I need to know which one of them wrapped that blanket around Cas. It’s imperative that I gain that knowledge. He’s handcuffed and he’s chained to a very small area, he did not get that blanket himself. He’s suffering so much, poor baby

You REALLY need to rename your new coven

Is Sam the only one in this room who hasn’t worked closely and one-on-one with Crowley for a extended time? Is that why he’s on his moral high horse about what a dick Crowley is?

The angel radio thing is a super convenient explanation they can throw in whenever they want. I’m not saying Cas is lying that those are the voices he’s now hearing…just that he may be wrong

I like this connection Amara has with the former representation of the Darkness. I mean, it’s probably unhealthy, but can you imagine being tbr equivalent of an 8-10 year old, seeing an older version of yourself in the mirror and them telling you “we are mightier than god”?!

Are…are these this universe’s Great Value ineffable husbands? Or is this just a one off scene of an angel and a demon sitting down for a drink while discussing what horror has heaven and hell in a tizzy

I…hate how they’re treating this nobody witch

It must be so difficult being a super powerful demon and having to grovel at the feet of this little girl because she’s gonna grow up into something that’s mightier than you and god. She’s in your care, but you’re under her thumb

Well, I can’t say I saw her killing her nanny coming…Crowley’s realizing what a huge mistake he’s maybe made

Can we stop handcuffing Rowena??

If Amara keeps this up, Crowley’s not gonna have any demons left

She’s so proud of her leverage against Dean. If he calls Crowley and she dies as a result? They’ll never have the Book of the Damned and they can’t fix Cas and he slowly succumbs to the spell she put on him and eventually dies too

Oh, Cas…baby, where are you going??

I love that cruel Crowley is back. As much as I enjoyed trying to be Dean’s bff Crowley, it IS better when he gets to be mean

Not that they can’t do it oh so well on their own, but Rowena making sure that wedge gets driven between the Winchesters…it’s been to long since they were fighting. What, two episodes?

I know it’s late at night but the optics of just some dude forcefully leading a lady in old timey handcuffs is NOT GREAT, SAM

This poor girl, she was just trying to get home or something. And poor Cas, he’d never do this in his right mind.

Dean, don’t hit on random women on the street, especially this late at night. I’m glad she told him to get a life

He’s gonna feel so bad about this when he comes to…Yeah, it’s okay to throw Dean around like a rag doll. Not only can he take it, but it’s probably good payback from when he tried to kill you last season

Nah, she was so right for that. She did the equivalent of shoving Sam aside and locking the three of them in a room and they’re looking at her like it’s the greatest betrayal. Like they’re in some horrible predicament now. Dean literally just tried to change the terms of their deal before they went looking for Cas, she has no reason to believe they’d uphold their end of the bargain (letting her go free)

See? They’re FINE. Dean, did you ever think Cas wants to heal your wound because he can’t stand the thought that he did that? You don’t have to keep it because you had it coming. You don’t have to torture yourself

Ah damn, another nanny down…and now Amara is a…preteen??

#hellsite nostalgia tour 2023

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angelinthefire · 2 years

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I wish you would write a fic where s8 ends as if it were the series finale - Sam goes through the trials, and Metatron isn't tricking Cas and he goes through proper trials as well, which end up with him losing his grace. Mostly dealing with the aftermath, him and Dean living in the bunker. (maybe Charlie joins them or visits at some point, to have someone else around since Kevin isn't sticking around with the demons locked away.)

Ask in respose to this post

Hm, yes. So by Sam going through with the trials, you mean Sam dies, right? I am actually seriously thinking about writing a fic where Dean kills Sam in 15x19 when they make the offer to Chuck, I'm just deciding exactly what I want to say with it. But of course, s8 is a very different scenario.

I have a post somewhere where I talk about how I hate how the show treats angelhood as something that can be put on and taken off like a backpack. So that would probably be my starting point for developing this idea. I'd want to treat Cas losing his grace very, very seriously. He's lost limbs, an entire dimension of movement, he's lost multiple senses. It ought to be traumatic. Not too dark, I wouldn't enjoy writing something too heavy, but Cas would be having a hard time. I'd want to write him getting frustrated and angry, but I'd also want to show his determination and commitment.

For Dean, his story would be about figuring out who he is outside of his relationship with Sam, and outside his position as a caregiver. I think at first he'd be really relieved to have Cas around, and even relieved that Cas is going through it, because it gives him something to focus on other than Sam being dead. I think patterns are really hard to break out of, so I think Dean would be trying to treat Cas the way he would have treated Sam, because that's the easiest pattern for him to fall into. So Dean is hovering. And I think on one level Cas would enjoy someone caring for him, especially if it's Dean, but he'd also get frustrated with his helplessness. So he would get frustrated with Dean at some point. Maybe he'd blow up at him, and say something like, I'm not a replacement for your brother. And later he'd go to Dean to apologize, and he'd say that he does appreciate Dean's help. And Dean would say, "No, you were right. Worrying about you is easier than missing him. But that's not the only reason why I worry about you." And Cas would say something like, "Because I'm hopeless at being a human?" And Dean would say, "No because you're my friend. And that's what friends do." And Cas would be contrite. And I think Dean would hover less, but he'd still offer help to Cas, just in ways that work better for Cas.

There's several more paragraphs to this answer, so read more under the cut :)

While thinking about this, I had an idea for a scene. Cas gets on these kicks where he hyperfocuses on one thing, trying to get it perfect. And it often frustrates him that he's not perfect. So the idea is that he's practicing his knife skills. He feels clumsy in his body, and wants to get back up to the level that he was at as an angel. So there's a day where he's practicing obsessively, flipping his blade, switching his hold, passing it from hand to hand. And when Dean finds him, he sees that Cas' hands are covered in nicks and cuts. And he'd be like, "Dude, take a break, you're hurting yourself." And Cas would say something like, "It's only blood." (As opposed to grace. His life force doesn't dramatically leak out of him with every cut). Dean's like, "The hell are you talking about?" And I'd want Cas to explain that he used to be so much more than the body he's currently in. And he might not have his wings, or be super-strong, or be able to hear radio waves etc. anymore, but he can push this body to its limits and get the most out of it. At which point Dean's like, "hold up," and stills Cas with a hand on his arm. And he says something like "You're right, this is all you are now. So you gotta take care of yourself."

And Cas would let Dean patch up his hands, but he doesn't really take what Dean has to say to heart. Until they're on a hunt, and Cas does something reckless or self-sacrificial. And he's fine. But Dean freaks out. Because Dean has not fully processed that Sam is gone, he hasn't been thinking about it. Until that moment, it basically triggers him. And he has a bit of a melt-down. Over being a failure of a brother, and being alone, and Sam suffered through the trials, and what did Dean do, what has he ever done? And he couldn't save his brother. And that takes Cas fully out of his own problems for the first time. He stows his crap to comfort Dean and help him.

After Dean has recovered somewhat later, they talk, and Dean says something like, "I just don't know who I am without Sam, y'know?" And Cas replies, "I don't really know who I am at the moment either. We could find out together." And Dean's like, yeah. And he hugs Cas. And it's different from their previous hugs. It's more spontaneous and unguarded.

The problem is that this feels like a natural spot to end the story. But Dean and Cas haven't gotten together yet. I'm not sure what the driving conflict is from this point forward. It could be something very external. Like I think Kevin's mother is missing at this point, right? Maybe they could help find her or something. But anyways, this is where romantic feelings really start to take root. Like there were hints before, but now it ramps up.

I have an idea for a scene where Dean and Cas go out to a bar, and Dean wingmans for Cas with his usual enthusiasm, and Cas goes home with this woman. But as soon as they leave, Cas starts missing Dean. Which is weird because they're literally together all the time. And he thinks about what it would be like to kiss Dean instead. So this woman is making out with Cas, and he kind of freezes, and she's like, "Is something wrong?" And Cas says, kind of confused, "I think I'm in love with my best friend." And maybe she's nice and they talk for a while, idk.

On Dean's side of things, he is finding himself increasingly appreciating how Cas looks, and his mind increasingly wandering. But he doesn't know how to deal with that. So he just feels guilty about it, or like something's wrong with him. Not necessarily because Cas is a guy, but because Cas is his best friend. Like, the way I understand Dean, there'd always be some level of internalized homophobia, but I don't think I'd want that to be a focus here.

So there'd be some mutual pining for a while. I'm not sure what it is that actually brings them together in the end, and them getting together would need significantly more build up. I'd have to spend more time thinking about it.

But I have this idea for a scene where Dean and Cas are sitting on the hood of the car, drinking beer, watching the sunset. And Cas just comes out and says, "I love you."

And maybe Dean smiles, taken off-guard and uncertain, and says, "Love you too, man."

And maybe Cas sighs and sets down his beer, and says, "No, I mean..."

And he doesn't have to finish. Dean says, "Oh."

Cas would say something like, "I'm not telling you because I want anything to change. You're my best friend. I just... don't think I can stand to hide it anymore."

"Okay," Dean says. Then, "Do you feel better? Now that you've said it?"

Cas considers. Then nods. "Yes. I think so."

The keep hanging out. After a few minutes, Dean asks, "How do you know?"

"That I love you?"

"Yeah. How do you know that that's what it is?"

Cas shrugs and shakes his head and thinks. "Because I can't get enough of you. Because I could possess you, and I still don't think I would be close enough. At the same time, if I could spend forever watching you from afar, I'd be happy with that too. And because whenever someone else touches me, I wish it was you."

And Dean just kisses him. Like he practically jumps him. Which surprises Cas, but then he gets really, really into it.

So yeah, those are all my ideas. I think the main themes of the fic would be transformation/becoming. And maybe also the ability truly know another person.

I might actually write this, idk. It needs more shape.

Thanks for the ask, I had fun answering!

#ask #anonymous #dean winchester #castiel #destiel #not actually fanfic #spn #by mi #Sorry for taking so long #I hope the length of the answer makes up for the wait lol

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